There was pandemonium on Friday morning at the Benin Abattoir when some uniformed gunmen allegedly led by one SP Anetor attempted to arrest Chief Sunny Omokaro, the National President of the Butchers Union of Nigeria.
Most Butchers had resumed work early as usual and were about to commence their daily tasks when they noticed an unregistered black Hilux van and a Toyota Hiace bus with Edo Task Force covering the plate number carrying heavily armed men stationed nearby.
According to eyewitnesses, some of the armed men alighted from the vehicle and claimed they had “orders from above” to arrest Chief Sunny Omokaro. When the head of the team, Anetor was asked for an ID or warrant of arrest, he could not produce any.
The move sparked outrage among the butchers, who immediately resisted the attempt and demanded that the armed men arrest all of them instead if they must arrest their leader.
Some said since the men could not say who sent them and their purpose they were resisted and forced to leave the slaughter premises.
Unable to execute the arrest due to the butchers’ stiff resistance and loud protests, the gunmen were eventually forced to retreat, driving away in their vehicles, which included the Toyota Hilux van and the Hiace bus bearing a plate cover with “Edo State Task Force” inscription.
In his response in a telephone chat with Popular News, SP Unuanbo Anetor, Commander of the Edo State Task Force, said that the matter is now being handled by the Office of the AIG Zone 5, Benin, where the Task Force has forwarded its complaints as they were on the verge of being mobbed at the Abbatoir by urchins suspected to have been mobilized by the butchers.
