Operatives of Edo State Police Command while on township surveillance patrol along Ugbor Road, GRA Benin City, stopped a suspicious Toyota Corolla car with Reg. no USL929SS with five occupants. On a closer survey of the occupants of the car, one of the suspects who later was identified as Ayo Jeremiah Obazuwa was on complete military regalia and claimed to be a Military Captain. Another occupant who was later identified as Joseph Bulus was seen in handcuffs, which led to all the occupants being brought to State CID for further investigation.
During the preliminary investigations, the said Ayo Jeremiah Obazuwa confessed to being a civilian and not military personnel as he earlier stated. The said Joseph Bulus stated that he was in his house when the self-acclaimed Military Captain came in the company of three others, one Sule Kelson Jubril, Silas Uwana and Ogbonmwan Jude under the guise of giving him a job but rather handcuffed him, dragged him into the boot of the car and whisked him away to an unknown location, before he was later removed from the boot and made to sit in the car.
The case was charged to court on Monday, September 12th, 2022 under a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit felony to wit kidnapping punishable under Sec 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; Kidnapping, an offence contrary to Sec 2(1) and punishable under Sec 3 of the Kidnapping Prohibition (Amendment) Law of Edo State 2013; Conspiracy to commit an offence punishable under Sec 517 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Vol. II, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; impersonation by wearing camouflage uniform of Nigeria military and thereby committed an offence punishable under Sec 109(a) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Vol. II, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004;
Conspiracy to commit felony to wit impersonating Public Officers and thereby committed an offence punishable under Sec 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; False representation of a person under public service and effected the arrest of one Joseph Bulus and thereby committed an offence punishable under Sec 108(2) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The suspects have been remanded in prison custody pending DPP’s advice.
To this end, the Commissioner of Police Edo State Command, CP Abutu Yaro, reaffirms his commitment to serving the good people of Edo State by ensuring that all sleep with their two eyes closed. He urges the general populace to continue to collaborate with the Force as no complaints would be handled with laxity.
