BENIN CITY – The gory sight of 20 dry corpses confronted operatives of the Edo State Police Command, in a major bust operation, which led them to a shrine where ritual operations are believed to be taking place along Asoro slope, off Ekenhua Road, Uzebu quarters in the ancient Benin City.
The operation led to the instant arrest of three suspects, according to Jennifer Iwegbu, spokesman of the command, who disclosed in a statement on Thursday, that the operatives acted on information from members of the public, confirming the number of corpses retrieved from the shrine.
Iwuegbu, who gave the names of two of the suspects as Chimaobi Okoewu and Oko Samuel from Afikpo in Ebonyi State, and the third suspect, Gideon Sunday, reportedly came from Akwa Ibom, said the command was making efforts to apprehend other fleeing suspects in connection with the crime.
Giving further details and breakdown of the corpses, she said the included 15 males, three females and two children, who were all mummified by their captors, adding that the command would do everything to ensure that it got to the root of the incident, expose and punish those behind it.
Part of the statement, read: “Following credible information that some corpses were discovered in a building along Asoro slope off Ekenhua Road, Uzebu quarters, Benin city, Operatives of the command immediately mobilised to the scene,” the statement read.
“At the scene, three suspects, Chimaobi Okoewu ‘M’ and Oko Samuel ‘M’ both of Afikpo in Ebonyi and Gideon Sunday ‘M’ of Akwa Ibom State were arrested while others fled. An intensive effort is ongoing to arrest the other fleeing suspects. 15 mummified male corpses, 3 mummified female corpses and 2 mummified children corpses were discovered at the scene.”
She quoted Edo State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, as directing the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to carry out a discreet investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the discovered corpses.
The police boss, was also said to have urged the public to be calm; assuring that the Police Command will continue to ensure the safety of all law-abiding citizens and those residing in the state. (Whirlwindnews.com.ng)
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