Follow Us on Google
•We killed corps member in Benue for refusing to surrender laptop –Suspect
From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Other suspects.
Suspected armed robbers, certainly from the pit of hell, have narrated how they killed a corps member in Benue State after robbing her of her belongings.
Philip Tyohie and his gang members were arrested by the Benue State Police Command in their hideout in Adeke, a suburb of Makurdi, the state capital.
The suspects were notorious for blocking the bad portions of the Makurdi -Naka road and terrorizing innocent commuters along that axis.
Luck, however ran out on them after the police teams were emplaced to investigate and arrest suspects following reports of robbery attacks on Makurdi-Naka road.
Parading the suspects at the police headquarters in Makurdi, the state Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adesina, said: “On 6/2/2024 at about 1915hrs, the police trailed and arrested the following gang members; Oryina Kumshi, Terzungwe, and Philip Tyohie in a hideout at Adeke.
“Suspects confessed to have been involved in four robbery operations on Naka road and neighboring communities that led to loss of live and properties.
“Particularly, they confessed to have been part of the robbery and killing of a female youth corps member, one Irene Chioma Emmanuel whom they killed while she was trying to protect her laptop from them.”
Speaking to our correspondent after their parade, one of the suspects, Philip Tyohie, expressed regret for his actions, saying: “If I was aware that this would claim someone’s life, I would not be part of it.”
Philip had returned home in December 2023, to celebrate Christmas with his wife and family members. He stated that he intended to return to Ekiti with his wife after the Christmas celebration. But this did not happen as Tyohie took to crime to raise transport fare for his trip back to Ekiti, leading to his arrest.
He told Daily Sun: “I escorted my friend out that day when he suggested we go to the road to get some money.
“We were five: Ushahemba Uter, Oryina Kumshi, Agbongo Tyopev, Terzungwe and myself.
“We just blocked the road that day and when we saw the corps member, we asked her to give us money but she didn’t have money. After searching her, Ushahemba now saw her with a laptop. He asked her to give him the laptop but she refused.
“He started taking the laptop by force but the lady refused to give it to him. She was struggling to prevent him from taking it.
“So, he stabbed her with a screwdriver on her shoulder and that was when she released the laptop but we didn’t know she would die.
“I feel bad and sorry for what I did. I’m really sorry and I will never do that in my life again.”
Tyohie, a primary five school dropout, said he is a farmer. He had just returned from Iworoko, in Ekiti State, in December 2023, where he was doing farm work to fend for himself and his family who were back home.
He said: “I came home on December 14, last year, to celebrate Christmas because my wife is here. I had planned to take my wife back with me after the Christmas celebration.”
Asked why he didn’t go back with his wife as planned, Tyohie, said: “It’s poverty o. I didn’t have money to transport myself again. I had nothing left but I’m sorry for what I have done.”
He was paraded alongside 11 others suspected to be involved in kidnapping, banditry and illegal arms manufacturing, among others.
Our correspondent reports that criminal elements including armed robbers, bandits, kidnappers among other have made live unbearable for residents and commuters alike in the state.
While some people are robbed or kidnapped in their homes, others are kidnapped on the road while going about their legitimate businesses.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, who is barely one month in office, said in the last three weeks, the command has been able to carry out some reforms in the area of deployment and re-orientation of officers to enable them exhibit the needed professionalism in carrying out their duties.
He said under his watch, the command will continue to fight crime to make the state a better place for peaceful coexistence.
He, therefore, called on the good people of the state to support the police with useful and timely information that is capable of preventing crime.
