The suspects, LEADERSHIP SUNDAY gathered, include the royal father, a community leader as well as his wife, daughter and one other in Irri, Isoko South local government area of Delta state.
The suspects have been taken to the anti-terrorist unit, office of the Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police Zone ‘5’, Benin-City.
The police identified those arrested as HRH, Ovieseriba Ejenuwe II, the Odiologbo of Irri Kingdom, the chairman of Irri Community Development Committee Mr. John-Mark Odhigbo, his wife, daughter and one other person (names unknown).
Although, it had been rumoured earlier that the five suspects were abducted by “unknown gunmen”, the Delta State Police spokesman, ASP Charles Muka, when contacted, explained that information he received from the police in the area showed that the monarch and others were arrested in connection with the case of alleged murder.
Moreover, the commander of the Anti-Terrorist Squad in the state, Mr. Jonathan Acha, dismissed the abduction story as baseless.
Acha confirmed that the squad actually arrested the monarch and four others in connection with murder and have since handed them over to the Police in Zone ‘5’, Benin-City, Edo state.
However, LEADERSHIP SUNDAY learnt that the community has recorded series of fatal clashes due to lingering crisis believed to have been triggered by misunderstanding over the sharing of some undisclosed largesse meant for the community from oil companies operating in the area.
Posted: at | |