The Inspector General of Police (IG), Muhammed Abubakar Adamu, must urgently bring Chief Godwin Ukori, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, to deserved justice for allegedly shooting dead Mrs. Yado Odogbo, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member on Saturday, 19 September 2020 in Nikorogha Ward, Ovia South-West local government area of the state.
Making the call on Sunday in a release in Benin, the capital, APC noted: “The gruesome killing of Odogbo in Unit 6 Nikorogha Ward was just one of very many despicable, callous and violent acts foisted by the PDP across parts of the state to win the Saturday’s election at all cost. From Uhunmwode in Urhonigbe North, to Orhionmwon, Oredo, Egor, Ikpoba-Okha local Government, and several other places in Edo central and Ego North, INEC officers ran away, while voters took to their heels for dear lives as a result of sporadic shootings by PDP agents of death.”
It said: “As they came into the voting environment and upon sighting our party member called Pastor Bishop, Ukori and his men started shooting at him. It is during the shooting that Odogbo was sighted and shot at the head, dying instantly. Her family who are strong APC members has written a petition to Zone 5 and Zone 5 officers have gone to Asaba to effect arrest of Ukori, Obaseki’s SSA on Security. We don’t know if he has been arrested.”
The release, signed by Mr. John Mayaki, clarified that Odogbo was on the said day at the polling station to vote, and was reportedly awaiting her turn, like many others, “when the hoodlums stormed the centre shooting into the midst of voters, party agents and INEC officials. While many scampered and escaped the scene, Odogbo was not fortunate.”
It said: “The blood of Odogbo cries for justice. Those who shot her, making her grisly and ghastly remains the subject of pitiful attention for almost one hour as police officials were being awaited to evacuate same, must be served justice of equal weight. Why PDP, using Ukori, decided to terminate our members life just because she wanted to perform her civic role must be questioned and punished.
“Others who allegedly came with guns in company of Ukori included Kulemine Allah, Tubesa Allah, Jephet Ebiwei, Wisdom Gamine Ebiwei, Gbolu Ebiwei and Ejorliyor Ogodogodo Gibi. As a party, we have done everything possible to stop our enraged members from taking laws into their hands. Pastor Ize-Iyamu has been busy in the last few days visiting and appealing to the bereaved family, as well as those who suffered injuries in whatever way, to exercise restraint, promising them justice and pledging supports.
“As a party, we expressed our commitment to engage in non-violent election and results of our unflagging commitment is now being seen through Odogbo who now lies at the mortuary. Many others who suffered degrees of bruises and wounds have been receiving treatments across various private hospitals in the state.
“The option of peace will be sustainable if and only if justice is served and at the quickest possible time. We lamented the plans of PDP to kill and make voting difficult for our members and the Edo state electorate before and while the election was going on. We were entirely aware of the thugs Obaseki prepared weeks before the election day, and how gun trainings were being undertaken, to declare that the election was indeed war.
“The story now is that PDP, particularly Ukori, has been going round and warning our members in Ovia South-West, as well as other councils, never to disclose what they experienced during the election. Many of our people are now nursing gunshot wounds, and wounds sustained in stampedes occasioned by violence instantiated by PDP daredevils.
“We urge the IG to order the arrest of Ukori and the six others for diligent prosecution and deserved justice, and to investigate several other cases of violence and unrests caused by the PDP. This call is the least we could do in the face of torments and provocation by Obaseki and his party who again have been arresting our members across the councils on trumped allegations, using men of the Nigeria Police,” the statement said.
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