By Esho Ayemoba in Benin
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has condemned in strong terms the setting ablaze of some seven suspected kidnappers by residents of a community in Uromi, East North East Local Government Area.
The Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor, Mr. Fred Itua, in a statement, quoted the Governor as describing the act as barbaric and condemnable.
The Governor represented by the Chief Security Officer (CSO), Government House, SP Solomon Osaghale, vowed to ensure that the perpetuators are brought to justice and made to face the full wrath of the law.
He stressed that such a barbaric act is strange in our climes and will not be tolerated in the State.
Osaghale, said he was in Uromi on the instance of the Governor to ascertain the level of damage done and to ensure that prompt a investigation is carried out to ensure justice and forestall a reoccurrence.
He revealed that investigations have shown that the people who were killed had boarded a commercial truck and was stopped by members of local security who upon search of the vehicle, discovered some guns, a situation that led to the mob attack by persons around the vicinity.
While condemning the act, he reinstated that nobody has the right to take another man’s life, stressing that the nature of the barbaric killing was a cause of concern to the Governor.
Oseghale said: “The Governor on getting the news of this incident, directed me to immediately come here and find out what transpired as the news of what happened here is a sign of worry to our Governor whose desire is to create a prosperous State void of dastardly acts like this.
“I can assure you that the people involved in this unprovoked attacked will not go scot -free, as has directed the Commissioner of Police to launch a full scale investigation into the matter. As I speak now, over four persons have been arrested for their involvement in this ugly incidence,” he said.
The CSO called for calm, while assuring the law abiding residents of Uromi, especially the Hausa Community in the area to go about their daily activities, as men of the Nigerian police force and other security agencies have been deployed to restore peace and normalcy to the place.
Appreciating the Governor for his swift response, the leader of the Hausa Community in Uromi, Mallam Aliyu Haruna, thanked the Governor for deploying the CSO and other security personnel to the community.
Haruna, acknowledged that their presence has brought calm and reassurance to the Hausa Community in the area, as there was palpable fear and unease in their camp following the unfortunate incidence which he noted has never happened before in the local government
Haruna, said: “We want to sincerely thank the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo for his swift response to the occurrence of this ugly incidence. I must tell you that this is the first time a thing like this is happening in Uromi and it baffles me because, Uromi people have been so accommodating to us in the Hausa Community.
“Over the years, we have lived peacefully among the indigenes. Our sojourn in this land has spanned over seventy years. I was given birth to here, and so are many other people you are seeing here today.”
