The elders and youths of Iyekogba Community in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State have called on the State Police Command to bring to justice the alleged murderers of one of its youth leaders, Frank Osagie, and attempted murder of one Victor Iredia and four others on 11th June.
Members of the community made the demand while addressing journalists at the Secretariat of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Benin City on Monday.
Speaking, Mr. Bright Omo-Asuen who read a statement signed by His Royal Highness Anthony Osayemwenre Osagie, Enogie of Umegbe and President, Iyekogba Elders’ Council on behalf of the Iyekogba Community, pointed out that trouble erupted when the youths gathered at Umegbe village to resolve the boundary dispute between Evbuerohun Village and Okoebor Village which was reported to the Youth Council of Iyekogba Community and earlier fixed for 4th June; but was adjourned to 11th June because of the absence of key stakeholders from Okpebor.
He disclosed that some persons from Okpebor who came late to the meeting started shooting sporadically at everybody at the meeting venue which led to the death of Frank Osagie, while others sustained various degrees of injury.
According to the statement, “the following Monday was fixed to look into the matter, the Odionwere of Okpebor Community agreed to be available at the meeting with his people. They thereafter moved to the Evbuorohun Community for the same purpose of meeting with the Odionwere.
“On getting there, not up to ten minutes, the Okaeghele of Okpebor Community, Mr. Marvis Agbontaen, together with his said second-in-command, Mr. Osazee Okunbo and others drove past with three cars, went to a distance to park and after a while, turned back towards where the people were gathered, brought out guns, without any act of provocation, started shooting indiscriminately at everybody present there.
“The gun shots affected several persons including Mr. Frank Osagie who died when he was being rushed to the hospital and his body is presently deposited at the morgue. The following persons also sustained serious gunshot wound; Mr. Victor Iredia, Mr. Osagiator Amadasun, Mr. Monday Ohonba, Mr. Osarobo Aighariaha and others from various communities who are presently receiving treatment at the hospital, others who were present at the scene fled and luckily escaped bullet wounds.
“The matter was thereafter reported at the lyekogba Estate Police Division, where the matter is presently being investigated”, the statement said.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Edo State Police Command failed as all calls to the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Moses Yamu, were not answered.
Discussion about this post