THE Edo State
Police Command have arrested 11 persons with cache of arms during a
raid at Azagba Community in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of the
state which has been embroiled in communal crisis.
Among those
arrested included the head of the community, Odionwere Pa Samuel
Arasomwan, 84, Pa David Igbinosun, 78, Omoyelele Ajiro, Osazee
Akhimien, Anighara Collins, Edugie Edwin, Monday Ovie and others.
The Commissioner
of Police in the State, Mr Haliru Gwandu said the raid in the
community was part of efforts being made by the command to mop up
arms in some of these communities.
According to him,
the arms and ammunition were being used to terrorise innocent
residents of the state. Describing the communal crisis which engulfed
the community last week, the CO disclosed that the Chief Priest
(Ohen) of the community Nosakhare Ogieriakhi and some elders of
Azagba have been invited for questioning.
We gathered that
the raid in the community became bloody when the youths engaged the
policemen who stormed the community in a shootout, which led to the
injury sustained by two police officers.
Armed mobile
policemen have taken over the community as the youths perpetrating
the violence fled to the bush.When contacted on telephone, the Chief
Priest of Azagba Community Nosakare Ogieriakhi, alleged that armed
cultists hired by the former CDA chairman, now in prison custody for
alleged murder, invaded the community and vandalized his Palace
because he asked the former CDA chairman to account for his ten years
stewardship.
He further
lamented that the hoodlums destroyed three vehicles parked in his
palace when they came.
However, the
suspects denied knowledge of the arms and ammunition recovered in the
community, with Pa Igbinosun, explaining that one of the double
barrel guns paraded belongs to a tenant in his house.
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