SAN FRANCISCO, November 14, (THEWILL) – Escapees from the two correctional centres in Benin City, Edo State, have been reportedly sending threat messages to policemen who investigated and prosecuted their cases.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Johnson Kokumo said that one of the escapees killed a prosecution witness from his village.
The police boss stated that a doctor attached to the Central Hospital was hit by a stray bullet amid continued cult-related killings and shootings in the state capital.
Kokumo, who said his men were making efforts to restore normalcy to the state, noted that three officers shot on Friday by hoodlums were recuperating.
“You can imagine what it means when three police stations along Sokponba Road are destroyed and burnt, and patrol vehicles destroyed in several other parts of the state capital. All the officers in these stations now operate from the headquarters.
“The #EndSARS protest was hijacked by hoodlums and it took a violent turn in the state and prisoners were set free. What do you expect? Some of these escapees have been sending threat messages to policemen who investigated and prosecuted them. One of the escapees convicted for murder killed the prosecution witness that same day in his village but he was rearrested immediately.
“Everybody must be part of the restoration of sanity. People who know these escapees should avail us information about them. I am assuring you that we are not sleeping but with what has happened to the police in Edo, some of these hitches are expected”, Kokumo explained.
Meanwhile, the escalation of bloody clashes between rival cult groups, Eiye and Aye has heightened tension in the State capital and adjoining towns as no fewer than 18 persons have been feared dead within the week.
To forestall further breakdown of law and order, military personnel have been deployed at flashpoints– Third East Circular, Upper Sakponba, Idogbo, Three House Junction and the adjoining streets, where activities of the cultists can easily spill to other locations in the city.
THEWILL gathered that the activities of the rival blood thirst cultists were said to have also taken toll in Ekenwan road, Siluko road, Wire road, Isihor, Oluku, Dumez road, Texile Mill road, New Benin road, Ogida Quarters, Ogbe and Ibivwe Quarters of the City.
About 450 shops, five markets, banks, public and private schools were shut as at Friday morning because of the violent confrontation between rival cult group in Upper Sakponba area of the State capital.
Parents had to rush to schools to take their wards home moments the troubled atmosphere became charged with endless shootings.
The cult clash was in addition to the cases of carjacking, robbery and other sundry crimes in the State capital, just as two suspected armed robbers were lynched by a mob penultimate week.
Worse as the situation is, within Upper Sakponba and Idogbo areas of Ikpoba Okha council area of the state, residents were said to be trapped and helpless as about seven police stations within the localities were razed down and arms and ammunition carted away during the recent #EndSARS protest that enveloped the state.
Sadly too, the Benin and Oko Correctional Centers along Sapele road and Airport road respectively were invaded by hoodlums who hijacked the peaceful EndSARS protest where they set free an estimated 2, 000 inmates out of which a larger percentage of the number is yet to return back to the facilities.
