Oke-Oroma Community Accuse Police Officer Terrorizing It With Thugs

The Odionwere, elders, leaders and people of Oke-Oroma Village in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State have accused a police officer, SP Godspower Osagie of the Rapid Response and Intelligence Squad of the Edo State Police Command of allegedly using thugs armed with AK 47, Pump Action and other dangerous weapons in terrorizing the community.
In a petition made available to journalists in Benin City titled, “Violent And Criminal Activities Of A Notorious Criminal Gang in Oke-Oroma Village Who Are Terrorizing The Village With Dangerous Weapons lncluding Several AK 47s Allegedly Belonging To The Nigerian Police, Alleged Aiding And Abetting Of The Alleged Gang By One SP Godspower Osagie” addressed to the Command Intelligence Respond Squad”., the people of Oke-Oroma said the matter has been reported to the Police authority severally.
They claimed to have also brought to the notice of the Police at various times, complaints against some criminal elements terrorizing the community with dangerous weapons such as AK 47 and pump action riffles.
The petition was signed by the Odionwere and village head of Oke-Oroma, Pa. Gaius Emokpae, the community’s secretary general, Mr. Monday Omorogiuwa and the Plot Allotment Committee chairman of the village, Mr. Sylvester Obayuwana.
The statement read, ” We the people and indigene of Oke-Oroma Village/Community in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State acting through their Odionwere/village head Pa. Gaius Emokpae and other principal members of the village/community vide, Monday Omorogiuwa, the community general secretary and Sylvester Obayuwana (Plot Allotment Committee chairman of the community do hereby state as follows:
“Despite several petitions/complaints to the commissioner of Police, Edo State, the representatives of the Oke-Oroma Village in company with their lawyers also went to make oral complaint with the Honourable Commissioner who further detailed SP GODSPOWER OSAGIE to handle the matter. The Commissioner also directed SP GODSPOWER OSAGIE to get back-up men from Crack Team, whenever the need arises, to intervene with a view to flush out criminal elements from Oke Oroma.
“Some of the operatives attached to Edo State Command Intelligence Respond Squard arrested some suspects with exhibits, ‘such as motor vehicles with large quantities of ammunition.
“But SP Osagie personally released some of the suspects who now came to our village and drove us away with their guns. They destroyed our ancestral home (Oguedions), destroyed some buildings, antiquities and staff of the Oguedion referred to as ‘Ukhure’”.
“The properties allegedly destroyed are worth millions of naira. Now we are living without home and we are still threatened by these criminals. Unfortunately, up to date, no positive result has been achieved as our community and village is still under siege/captivity by these criminals.”
The Oke-Oroma indigenes also said that their greatest surprise is that one of the gang leaders, Mr. Augustine Awotu AKA, 99, came to the town hall to allege that he has returned AK 47 rifles to SP Osagie yet he was walking free.
“Mr. Augustine Awotu, A.K.A ‘99’ is one of the leaders of the notorious gang. Mr. Augustine Awotu A.K.A 99 was not arrested by SP. Godspower Osagie, neither did he direct the investigating police officer to arrest him”.
The community then petitioned to the Inspector General of Police who transferred the matter to Force CID Annex, Alagbon, Lagos.
“Since no positive result came from the said Godspower Osagie, we reported the Matter to Inspector General of Police who now referred the case to Force CID Annex, Alagbon Close, Lagos.
“Force CID arrested one of the suspects, Mr. Kiriku who confessed to the police how they killed our brother, Mr Solomon Ehis in Amagba. The Suspect equally confessed that they have one Barrater pistol.
“The suspect further confessed that they handed over 2 AK 47 rifles to SP Godspower Osagieand that, SP Godspower Osagie is on the pay roll of Mr. Osasa Monday Okhuoleigbe, Austin Awotu and his gang”.
They called for further investigation of the matter to effect justice and end the threat to their safety.
“Please use your good office to investigate this matter by calling the IPO, in Force CID and SP Godspower Osagie as well as other vital authorities. We are law abiding citizens who would not want to take the law into our hands. But we passionately seek for justice, protection of our lives and properties as same is now under continuous severe threat.”
When contacted, the Edo State police public relations officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor denied the allegations, as he absolved SP Godspower Osagie of the allegations and called on members of the public to discountenance the petition.