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By Faheem Lawal
The Edo State Police Command has arrested five men for allegedly defiling children aged between eight and 15 years.
The command also rescued a kidnap victim, busted suspected cult networks, recovered firearms and foiled an attempt to smuggle three locally made pistols to Benue State concealed inside unripe plantains.
Addressing journalists yesterday in Benin City, the Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, said the breakthroughs were recorded during a series of operations conducted across the state in August.
Daaor warned criminals operating in the state that Edo would not be a comfortable environment for them, adding that the command would sustain its offensive against criminal elements.
On the child defilement cases, the CP said a 52-year-old home lesson teacher, Daniel Okhuilegbe, was arrested on August 5 for allegedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old pupil in his care.
According to him, the suspect was charged before the Benin High Court on August 14 and remanded in Oko Correctional Centre.
He said, “On August 6, a 42-year-old man was arrested for allegedly raping his own 15-year-old daughter in Iyahmo. He was charged to court on August 14 and remanded at Benin Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
“On August 10, a 29-year-old suspect, Samson Amachie, was arrested for allegedly luring an 11-year-old girl to an uncompleted building behind his shop in Okhoro, where he allegedly had unlawful sexual intercourse with her.
“He was arraigned before the Benin High Court and remanded at Oko Correctional Centre.
“On August 12, a 26-year-old man, Otaru Jonathan, was arrested for allegedly taking a 14-year-old girl on a motorcycle to an uncompleted building at Afokpella in Okpella, where he allegedly had unlawful sexual intercourse with her before giving her N2,000.
“The survivor was taken to hospital for medical evaluation while investigation continues ahead of arraignment.
“On August 14, a 21-year-old suspect, Innocent Emmanuel, was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl in New Etete while her parents were away.
“The child had reportedly suffered repeated sexual abuse by the same suspect. The victim was taken to Viviana Medical Centre for examination while investigation is ongoing.”
Daaor added that the command on August 13 received a report that a 12-year-old male apprentice was allegedly sexually assaulted by one Orji Okoro at the suspect’s residence on August 12.
He said the suspect had been arrested and investigation was ongoing.
In a related development, the CP said the command on August 5 made a dramatic firearms discovery at Flight Transport Services, Akpakpava, Benin City, where three locally made Beretta pistols were found concealed inside unripe plantains in a sack abandoned by an unknown man who had presented it for waybill to Benue State.
He said technical intelligence led operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to arrest 27-year-old Andrew Friday at Akpakpava on August 7.
According to him, Friday confessed to sending the sack and admitted being a member of the Aiye Secret Cult Confraternity.
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“He said the firearms were given to him by one Bance, from Iyanomo Community, for repairs in Benue State and subsequent use in a cult rivalry,” Daaor said.
In a separate operation at Egbaen Community, off Ekenhuan Road, Benin City, the Anti-Cultism and Anti-Kidnapping Unit, working with personnel of the Government House Task Force, arrested four suspected cult members.
They were identified as Nuka Joseph, 27; Osatohamwen Ogor, 30; John Osewengie, 30; and Osezee Osayi, 29.
The police said four locally fabricated pistols, one locally made Beretta pistol and one cut-to-size double-barrel gun were recovered during the operation.
The suspects allegedly confessed to membership of the Aiye Confraternity.
Meanwhile, Daaor said six armed hoodlums invaded a compound at Jesus Christ Street, Iduowinna Community, on August 14 and robbed residents of phones, laptops, wristwatches, perfumes, human hair and a Lexus 350 saloon car with registration number BWR 988 DH.
He said the stolen vehicle was recovered at Oba Market by 9am the same day, while efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.
On August 15, a surveillance team attached to Okhoro Division intercepted two Toyota Highlander SUVs suspected to have been stolen or abandoned at Five Junction, off Iheya-Uselu Lagos Road, Benin City.
One of the vehicles was subsequently confirmed to have been stolen, while a toy gun was recovered from one of them during a search.
The CP further disclosed that, following the June 29 arrest of two suspected members of a kidnapping and armed robbery syndicate, Mohammed Hamisu, 22, and Saidu Bebe, 23, at Okada, Ovia North East Local Government Area, the suspects on August 12 led operatives to a forest bordering Abudu in Edo State and Obiaruku in Delta State.
He said 58 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition and an additional magazine were recovered from the forest.
According to him, three AK-pattern rifles and two magazines had earlier been recovered from the same location.
In another operation, the command arrested two suspects, Martins Donatus, 26, and Mohammed Abubakar, 28, on August 10 for allegedly vandalising the premises of Africa Independent Television along the Benin-Idogbo Road, Ikhueniro Community.
Daaor said television master control room transmission equipment valued at about N150 million was recovered.
He added that the suspects were cooperating with investigators to identify other members of the syndicate.
The CP also disclosed that operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit rescued Elizabeth William from Ogheghe Community, off the Benin-Auchi Road, on August 5.
According to him, William was allegedly lured to the residence of a suspected Aiye cult member she had met on TikTok under the guise of a romantic date.
He said the victim’s family had already paid N500,000 ransom before police operatives intervened and rescued her.
