Benin-City Clash: Four Policemen Killed

Four police officers were killed Saturday in Benin-City, the Edo State capital while attempting to foil an abduction bid on human rights activist and lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN).

The officers of the Edo Police Command were killed in their failed attempt to stop the kidnappers making off with the human rights activist.

It was learnt Ozekhome was kidnapped along with his driver while they were travelling along the Benin-Auchi road.


Narrating the development to newsmen in Benin Saturday, the Edo State’s Commissioner of Police Foluso Adebanjo said: “Operatives of the command led by DPO Ehor Division responded swiftly to a distress call at about 3:30 pm that an unspecified number of armed men had blocked the Benin-Auchi road by Ehor axis. But while on their their way to the scene, the hoodlums ambushed the police patrol vehicle and opened fire on them.

“At the end of the gun duel, the hoodlums escaped with bullet wounds but not without their victim who was later identified upon search on his abandoned vehicle as Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and his driver. Regrettably, the command lost four officers in the encounter.”

There were, however, indications Saturday night that the police personally led by the Police Commissioner,  Adebanjo were on the trail of the suspected kidnappers of Ozekhome.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police Muhammed Abubakar was said to have directed the Commissioner of Police to fish out the suspects, just as he vowed to ensure that the suspects are brought to justice.

Force Public Relations Officers Frank Mba told journalists via telephone that the IGP had directed the Edo CP to commence immediate and vigorous manhunt for the hoodlums “who must be arrested and brought to justice and the kidnapped victims rescued”.

“We therefore once again call on the general public not to relent in their partnership with the police to fish out the criminals as common enemy to our society and report anyone found with the bullet wounds to the nearest police station.”

This is the second high profile abduction to have taken place in the Edo State in recent times. In May unknown gunmen kidnapped the wife and daughter of Supreme Court Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour.
The ladies, along with their driver, were intercepted as they were about to enter Benin. They were later released about three weeks later, presumably on the payment of some ransom to the kidnappers.