POLICE SERGEANT, OTHERS ARRESTED IN BENIN OVER KILLING OF POLICE CONSTABLE

Undisclosed number of policemen has been arrested by the Edo State Police Command over the alleged involvement in the killing of a police constable. The deceased, Victor Eghaghe, 27, who was attached to Esigie Police Station reportedly met his untimely death on the 4th of September, around Saint Savioun area of Benin City after he was allegedly invited by a police sergeant.

The circumstances of the killing of the police constable was unclear at press time yesterday, but family members of the deceased who protested his killing to the NUJ Press Centre yesterday alleged that he was shot by a police sergeant.

Speaking to journalists yesterday at the NUJ Press Centre in Benin, spokesman of the deceased family, Austin Eghaghe, who along with other family members protested the killing to the centre, said the lives of the members of the family were no longer the same since the killing of the constable who was their bread winner.

According to him, the late police Constable allegedly received invitation from the police sergent for a social engagement at his home on the fateful day. He however received a phone call from a police officer at about 2 pm, informing him that his brother (Victor) has been shot dead by armed robbers at a check point.

' I ran to Esigie Police station, the Station Officer told me that my brother's remains have been deposited at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), morgue. On getting there, I noticed that only one bullet pierced into his head and the spot was hurriedly stitched.'

'We therefore demanded to be taken to the scene where we discovered that there was no attack, let alone gun shot. After thorough investigation, the culprit confessed that my brother was hit by his stray bullet from his gun at St. Saviour Road

The spokesman who revealed that the deceased family had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, called on the police authority to carry out a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding the death of their son.

When contacted, Edo Police spokesman, ASP Peter Ogboi confirmed the incident, saying that some police officers have been arrested and are helping with investigation into the matter.