ALLEGED OBSTRUCTION OF INVESTIGATION: Obagie-Nevbuosa Community Seeks IGP Intervention
By Simeon OSAJIE
The people of Obagie Nevbuosa community in Ikpoba-Okha local government area of Edo State has appealed to the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP), Force Criminal Investigation Department, Garki, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and the CP X Squad to urgently look into the activities of some officers at the Zone 5 Command alleged to be thwarting efforts of Edo State Police Command in the investigation of various petitions about incidents that occurred in Obagie-Nevbosa Community.
This was contained in a petition dated 18 May, 2023 and signed by Ogbeide Imuentiyan Esq for M.O Emudhe & Co., titled, Re: Harmonization and Transfer of Petition, between Joseph Idemudia, Joseph Aigbedo, Osamede Edorodion and others, against Festus Ekenaiye Edegbe, Victor Oronsaye and Others of Obagie Nevbuosa community in Ikpoba Okha local government area of Edo State.
According to Ogbeide Imuentiyan Esq., “the officers hurriedly released suspects who would have assisted the police to get to the root of their investigation.
“The incidents borders on a case of kidnapping which occurred in the community, wherein sometime on the 15th of February 2023, the Edo State Police Command conducted a raid in the kidnappers hideout and recovered arms and ammunition, belonging to the gang leader, one (Osakpamwan Idemudia).
“Consequently, local vigilantes were stationed in the affected areas to help condone the area of kidnappers and other criminal elements. Also sometime on the 8th of March 2023, gunmen attacked the vigilante at the riverside and killed one of the local vigilantes.
“This prompted the vigilantes on the 23rd March, 2023 to intensify their search for the kidnappers and rescued two of their victims, killing two of the kidnappers, while others fled into the river and ammunitions and two boats were recovered in the process.”
Going further, Ogbeide Imuentiyan Esq alleged that one Osamede Edorodion, who is suspected to be involved in the killing of the vigilantes, is working tirelessly with the Police at Zone 5 Command to frustrate police investigation with a view to perverting justice.
The legal practitioner added that the pictorial and CCTV footage of the incidence were obtained and it is currently before the Investigating Police Section as the incidence was also covered by several online news platforms.
As he disclosed that the relevant petitions in question were assigned to the Command Monitoring Unit, Command Intelligence Rapid Respond Squad of the Edo State Police Command Headquarter and the Homicide Section, Anti-Vice Section of the Zone 5 Police Headquarter.
Flowing from the above, Imuentiyan Esq. passionately appealed that the higher authorities of the Police should intervene in the matter ex debito justitiae as their clients Festus Ekenaiye Edegbe, Okaighele of Obagie Nevbuosa Community, Victor Oronsaye and the people of the community have lost confidence in the investigation and largely dissatisfied with the manner the assigned sections are handling the matter.
“Hence the humble appeal for the harmonization and transfer of the various matter and allied petitions to enable the command carry out a more discreet investigation devoid of any form of sentiments,” he said.
