The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Babatunde Kokumo

  • Police comb forest in search of abducted catholic priest

    Men of the Edo State Police Command have begun combing forest in Uhunmwode local government area in search of a Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Edwin Omorogbe, who was abducted on Wednesday evening.

    State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, who confirmed the development said all efforts were being made to secure the release of Fr. Omorogbe.

    Fr. Omorogbe was abducted at Egba junction along the Benin-Ekpoma highway while returning from Uromi, Esan North East local government area.

    Kokumo assured that the kidnapped Priest would be released as soon as possible.

  • Suspected Pastor’s killer claims he is a hunter

    The suspect arrested in connection to the brutal killing of Pastor Pius Eromosele at his farm at Odighi in Ovia North East local government area has insisted that he is a hunter.

    Name of the suspect was given as Tahiru Usman and items such and blood stained dagger and cutlass and a dane gun were found on him.

    State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, said the suspect was arrested while combing the bush after the two workers of the late Pastor who escaped from the kidnappers den were debriefed.

    Tahiru, who was paraded before journalist at the police headquarters, claimed that he brought the gun from Kebbi State and was in the area to hunt for animals.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill another Pastor in Edo

    He said the blood on the dagger and the cutlass belonged to the animal he killed which was still inside the bush.

    The suspect said he went to buy cigarette when he was arrested.

    Late Pastor Eromosele was abducted alongside Emmanuel Akpan and Kingsley Emmanuel while his abductors demanded for N4m.

    He was brutally killed after the two workers escaped despite having deep cut on their body.

  • Gunmen kill another Pastor in Edo

    Senior Pastor of the Christ Chosen Church of God, Oranmiyan branch, Pastor Benson Iyobosa Isibor, has been killed by yet to be identified gunmen.

    This is coming one week after one Pastor Pius Eromosele was abducted and killed by suspected herdsmen at his farm.

    Late Pastor Isibor was killed on Monday evening at about 7pm while he was returning from work.

    He was shot dead at his residence at Oramiyan Street in Egor local government area.

    Witnesses said the gunmen lurked around the area until the pastor returned from work when they attacked him.

    The late Pastor was said to have been accosted by the gunmen as he was about to enter his house and they inquired if he was Pastor Isibor.

    It was learnt that Pastor Isibor answered in the affirmative before he was shot three times.

    Attempt by the gunmen to made away with the late Pastor’s jeep failed as the car rammed into the perimeter fencing of the building.

    When our reporter visited the residence, scores of sympathizers and church members were seen weeping.

    Eldest daughter of the deceased, Mrs. Rosemary Abu, described her late father as her best friend who could confide in her.

    Mrs. Rosemary said she was also returning from work when she heard three gunshots without knowing it was her father that was killed.

    She said, “The incident happened before 7pm. I was climbing the stairs when I heard the first gunshot. I saw people running for safety.

    “I later heard two other gunshots. It armed robbers were in the area. It was my brother that came and told me that my father was on the ground.

    “We met him dead. After they killed him, they took his car but they hit the fence and ran away.

    “My father was posted to this branch in 2014. Last two years, he said he received a text message from some persons that they want to kidnap him.he reported the matter to the police.

    “The killers were waiting for my father. It was not a case of kidnapping. I want these killers to die the way my father was killed.

    State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, confirmed the killings and said it was a case murder.

    Kokumo assured that the police will fish out the killers.

    Read Also: One killed as gunmen invade Edo community

  • Police recover 120 assorted firearms in Edo mop-up exercise

    Edo State Police Command said it has recovered 120 assorted firearms during a mop-up exercise that lasted one month.

    It said five suspects were arrested during the exercise.

    Firearms recovered include nine Ak47 rifles, one K2 rifle, one Beretta rifle, one TO6 rifle, 15 pump action guns, seven single barrel guns, two double barrel guns, two cut to size guns, two English pistols, 23 locally made single barrel guns, 12 locally made single barrel pistols, six locally made double barrel guns, 38 Dane guns, 150 love cartridges and one G-3 rifle.

    State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, who presented the recovered weapons to newsmen at the police headquarters, said the decision to mop-up firearms was in line with directives of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

    Kokumo said the manufacturing of locally made guns has been traced to some neighboring states while efforts are on to apprehend the suspects.

    He said the period for the mop-up exercise has expired and only the IG can extend it.

    His words, “In the determination to reduce crimes, the IGP ordered that unlicensed firearms in the hands of individuals and private bodies be recovered.

    “The exercise has yielded positive results. Many of the firearms recovered are prohibited firearms. They are not to be seen in the hands of individuals or private bodies. They are not arms you can be give licensed to use.

    “In the mop up exercise, we have asked people to willingly submit their guns. We traced ownership of some to their late parents. Some of them do not know the implications of keeping firearms without license. We did the mop up based on intelligence gathered.”

  • Septuagenarian, two sons arrested for defiling minor

    A 70-year old man identified as Francis Ezomo and his two sons, Nosa aged 26 and Festus aged 29, have been arrested by the police for defiling a nine year old girl.

    The victim who is a relative of Mr. Francis wife is a primary two pupil of Uyiosa Primary School at Olihia quarters in Egor local government area.

    Her mother was said to have died while on a journey to Europe which made her to live with the suspects as a house help.

    Sources said the victim was sexually abused severally by the deceased.

    The source said it was Mr. Francis that first had carnal knowledge of the minor before his sons took turns on her.

    When the victim was questioned, she said old baba had sex with her five times.

    It was gathered that it was the victim’s school head teacher that reported the case to officials of the state government after noticing a change in her behaviour.

    The victim was said to have narrated her ordeal to the headmistress who then informed the Education Secretary of the local government council where the alleged crime took place. 

    State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, assured that his men would investigate the allegation and charge the suspects to court.

    “Scientific investigation for the minor was sent to the hospital and a doctor report has shown that her hymen has been broken. The scientific report has established that the minor was sexually abused. We will investigate the case and charge them to court.

    “Nurturing a child is not just the responsibility of the school, both parents and guardians have a lot of roles to play in the proper training up of our children.”

  • APC hails police for quizzing Edo PDP chairman

    The Edo State chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC, has hailed the state Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, for quizzing the state Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Chief Dan Orbih, over allegations that rice meant for Internally Displaced Persons was diverted.

    It said it would move for Chief Orbih to be prosecuted if found to be lying about the rice donated by the Nigeria Custom Service for IDPs in the state.

    State Chairman of APC,  Barr. Anselm Ojezua, it was laughable for the PDP to turn the quizzing of Chief Orbih to a Nollywood movie by storming the Police headquarters in large numbers.

    Barr. Ojezua stated that the questioning of Chief Orbih was a right step in the right direction since ‘Chief Orbih has been making serious allegations of destabilizing dimensions”.

    Ojezua said Governor Godwin Obaseki was right in asking the police to investigate and prosecute Orbih’s where necessary.

    Read Also: Lawmaker supports APC faithful with 10 buses

    According to him, “Most of the allegations by Orbih are false and untrue. I am always of the opinion that the police have a duty to arrest a situation like that. You don’t wait for there to be a breakdown of law and order before making an arrest.

    “How can Dan Orbih come out to say Edo State Government made provisions for Iyamho university but didn’t make provisions for the AAU and Tayo Akpata University thereby giving the impression that the government does not care for some people. It was not true.

    “When a person provides information that is false, it is actionable particularly when it is meant to incite the public against government. The rice issues have to do with IDPs, vulnerable people. You can imagine Police invites Dan Orbih to substantiate his comments and the entire PDP showed up like a Hollywood movie. It is becoming a tradition for the PDP to turn serious issues into comedy. We are going to insist that police prosecute Dan Orbih.”

     

  • Alleged diversion of IDPs rice: Police invites Orbih for questioning 

    Alleged diversion of IDPs rice: Police invites Orbih for questioning 

    Edo State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, has invited Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Chief Dan Orbih, for questioning over allegations that the state government diverted rice meant Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    Chief Orbih had alleged that 4721 bags of rice meant for IDPs at Ohogua village in Ovai North East local government area were diverted.

    The invitation of Chief Orbih was based on a petition by Governor Godwin Obaseki on the need for the police to make Chief Orbih present facts of the allegations.

    Governor Obaseki had in the petition said Chief Orbih in a a radio interview ‘falsely and maliciously stated that the Edo State Government was involved in a criminal conspiracy to divert 4,721 bags of rice released by the Federal Government for distribution to IDPs in the state’.

    In the petition signed by Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, the Edo Government stated that Chief Orbih further claimed that 300 bags of rice were diverted to a certain Senator in Ondo State.

    According to the petition, “It is instructive to note that in making these allegations to the general public, Chief Orbih claimed that he had facts and records to back up these criminal allegations.

    “The purpose of this complaints is to formally bring these weighty and unsubstantiated allegations to your attention and to request a thorough investigation with a view to establishing the veracity or otherwise of same.

    “It is the contention of the Edo State Government that Chief Dan Orbih should be called upon to provide evidence of the serious crimes he has alleged to have been committed by the Edo State Government and to furnish your Command with facts, details and proof of the allegations he has made in the public domain.”

    State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Chris Nehikhare who confirmed the development said Chief Orbih will appear before the police.

    Nehikhare said the Edo PDP also wrote a petitioned for criminal incitement of the public against the leadership and members of PDP by the Edo State Government.

    He stated that Edo Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr. Paul Ohonbamu and the Media Aide to Governor Obaseki, Mr. Crusoe Osagie have consistently issued press releases referring the members and leadership of PDP as bandits, rogues, liars and fraudsters who stole the resources of the people.

    “Edo PDP wants the police to investigate these matters and ensure that those behind these criminal incitements are brought to book.”

    Read Also: Rice, shoes for IDPs: Edo releases distribution roster

  • Five policemen arrested over driver’s death in Edo

    Five policemen arrested over driver’s death in Edo

    Edo State Police Commissioner, Babatunde Kokumo, has confirmed the arrest of five policemen that allegedly pushed a commercial driver to his death on Tuesday.

    The death of the driver identified as John caused protests in some parts of Benin City.

    Three persons were killed and five police Hilux vans were burnt during the fracas.

    Identities of the affected policemen have not been ascertained at the time of filing this report.

    Kokumo said he has set-up a panel of inquiry to look into the policemen’s involvement in the accident that killed the driver.

    He said policemen attached to a patrol vehicle were alleged to have caused the accident.

    He said: “We have set departmental investigative panel of inquiry to look into their involvement in the fatal accident that caused the death of a driver.

    “Whether they pushed him or not is a matter to be investigated.”

     

  • Osayomore to release ’30 days and 30 nights in evil forest’

    Osayomore to release ’30 days and 30 nights in evil forest’

    Edo ace musician and social critic, Osayomore Joseph, is set to release a new musical album detailing his experience in the den of kidnappers.

    The album is titled ’30 days and 30 nights in evil forest’.

    Read Also: Edo musician Osayomore freed by abductors  

    He was abducted by gunmen on October 3 and released on November 2.

    His wife was shot by his abductors who are yet to be arrested.

    He was said to have spent two weeks in intensive care unit after he was released.

    Osayomore looked pale and walked with the aid of working stick when he visited the State Police Commissioner, Babatunde Kokumo, to hint him about the album launch on December 17.

    He said the album is to tell his story about how he was treated by his abductors.

  • Woman loses husband, son same day

    Woman loses husband, son same day

    A 60-year old woman who gave her name as Helen Odiazor has cried out for justice over the killing of her son, Melody, the same night her husband died.

     

    Already, State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, has waded into the matter by inviting the Divisional Police Officer of Saint Saviour Police Station and the vigilante group that killed Melody.

     

    Late Melody, a tipper driver apprentice, was said to have been shot by some local vigilante at Tipper Garage along Saint Saviour road at about 9pm when he was returning home after being informed about his father’s death.

     

    He was said to have been shot alongside two other boys and their bodies were displayed at the St Saviour Police Station.

     

    His mother, Helen, who was in tears said it was painful for her to lose her husband and her son the same day.

     

    Helen said her husband died in a hospital on November 8th while she was informed about her son’s death at about 4am the following day.

     

    She stated that her son was on his way home on hearing the death of his father when he was shot by Vigilante Men in St Saviour.

     

    The widow insisted that her son was not an armed robber.

     

    Sister of the deceased, Rachel, said policemen told the family that their brother was not dead but being treated for gunshot injuries.

     

    She said the police refused to disclose the hospital or take the family to the hospital.

     

    “They said they were three of them that were shot that night. Police said one died instantly, my brother was seriously injured while one is in custody.”

     

    However, CP Kokumo said he has invited all parties to a meeting this evening for proper briefing.

     

    He said the impression given to the police was that vigilante group had an encounter with armed robbers but that another information has emerged about the killing.