The Managing Director of Erhengbo Okoma Services Nigeria Limited, a security consulting firm engaged to provide security services for Oba and Uselu markets in Benin, Chief Sunday Erhengbo, has in two separate petitions to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Zone 5, Benin, alleged that his life and those of his staff were under threat.
In the first petition through his Lawyer, P. I. Idiaghe, dated January 20, 2025, he told the AIG that his staff while carrying out their lawful duties at the Oba Market were prevented by some persons, following which he asked them to withdraw to avoid crisis and proceed to the office of the DPO Oba Market Police Division.
He said the DPO, thereafter, personally put a call across to the ring leaders of those preventing his clients from carrying out their duties but that apart from ignoring the DPO’s invitation, they persisted in their action, necessitating the DPO, his clients and other policemen to proceed to the market.
Idiaghe stated in the petition that upon sighting the DPO, our clients and other police personnel, those who were preventing his clients from working at the market, opened fire with pump action guns and in the process one Mr. Omosigho was shot in the presence of the DPO of Oba Market.
“Besides that gory incident and brazen display of firearms another staff of our clients company called Abel Omorabor and Ajakaye were injured with a battle axe while others suffered varying degrees of bodily injuries and because of the impunity with which these acts were carried out, the DPO and his courageous men were able to arrest 4 and were transferred to office of the OC Eagle Crack Team, State headquarters for investigation.”
Erhengbo is, however, miffed that while he and other critical stakeholders and Oba Market Police DPO were working desperately to arrest others who were heavily armed with Pump Action guns and revolver pistol, the OC Eagle Crack Team allegedly collaborated with the OC Legal without recourse to him and hurriedly took the case to court on a charge that has been substantially castrated and whittled down thereby paving the way for the culprits to evade justice.
“In the light of the above, we most respectfully appeal to you to probe into this case with a view to redressing this glaring wrongful use of these Police personnel to subvert and whittle down the course of justice. Our Clients singular and lone request is that this case be properly investigated and the proper charge that befits the offence committed be preferred against the culprits who were hurriedly taken to a lower court for ease of bail and not this current charge that would guarantee their return back to crime,” Erhengbo pleaded with the AIG.
In the second petition through his Counsel, Jackson. O . Ehiabhi, dated January 22nd, 2025, Erhengbo narrated how his wife, Mrs Justina Erhengbo, went shopping at Ogida Market and parked in front of Textile Mill Road Police Station.
He told the AIG that upon returning to her vehicle after buying food items, she was accosted and detained by Police officers who claimed to be a combined detachment from Abuja Police Headquarters and the State CID, Benin City and who later told her they were looking for her husband without providing their identities, adding that while his wife was later released, her vehicle, a Sienna, has remained unlawfully detained at the Textile Mill Road Police Station without explanation or due process.
Besides, Chief Erhengbo stated that four members of his staff were brutally assaulted, arrested and whisked way and their whereabouts unknown till date, raising concerns about their safety and welfare.
He said the incident occurred on January 21st, 2025 at about 6 pm when heavily armed police officers allegedly led by one Godwin Omoregie, the former chairman of Uselu Market, stormed the market with assorted guns including AK-47 rifles and embarked on an unprovoked, sporadic shooting, creating fear, chaos and terror among traders and passers-by in the area.
Chief Erhengbo further stated that since these incidents, strange vehicles with unidentified persons have been trailing him, forcing him to go into hiding.
His lawyer said efforts by his client to ascertain the identities of the officers involved in the unlawful acts have yielded no result.
“The DPO at Textile Mill Road denied knowledge of the raiding team. However, information from independent sources points to operatives from the Financial Crime and Anti-Terrorism Unit of the State CID, Benin City, allegedly led by one Inspector Peter.
“In the light of the foregoing, we humbly request your urgent intervention to order an immediate investigation into the conduct of the officers involved in these unlawful acts, including their leader, Inspector Peter. We further request that you use your good offices to ensure the release and safe return of the four abducted staff of Erhengbo Okoma Services Nigeria Limited as well as the detained vehicle at Textile Mill Road Police Station,” the petition stated.
@ The Sun Nigeria
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