A member of a vigilance group at Obadolovbiyeyi community in Ikpoba – Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, Mr. Efe Igbinovia has been reportedly shot and killed by soldiers.

After the shooting, the soldiers allegedly released two suspected herdsmen who were apprehended for alleged armed robbery along the Benin-Abraka Expressway.

Reports say members of the vigilante group had on Wednesday apprehended the two herdsmen after the highway robbery and the deceased was asked to watch over them while other members of the vigilance group went in search of other fleeing members of the armed robbery gang.

No sooner had they left than armed men in military uniform arrived the community in a red Honda car with registration number AP 641 KN, shooting sporadically and killing Igbinovia.

An eyewitness and resident of the community, Mr. Henry Osemwengie said: “Two of the herdsmen were caught. Igbinovia was asked to stay with them. Before then, the police had been called to come and pick them up because that is what we normally do. Suddenly, a red Honda car with about four of them wearing military uniforms arrived carrying AK 47 rifles. They started shooting.

“Igbinovia shouted that he had been shot. The armed men went away with the two herdsmen. Robbers, most of whom are Hausa usually operate there. They keep their cows by the side, block the road and rob people.”

The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo while confirming the incident said  the two herdsmen who were accused of blocking and robbing on the expressway were in police custody being interrogated.

On the alleged killing of a vigilance group member by men in military uniforms, Kokumo said: “This is an allegation we are interrogating. Actually, one of the vigilace group members died on duty.”

 

Capt. Mohamed Maidawa, the spokesperson for 4 Brigade Command of the Nigerian Army said the troops who were sent to Ologbo for pipeline protection had received a tip-off from the residents about an ongoing robbery.

 

Capt. Maidawa added that the troops mobilized to the scene and engaged some armed men in a gun battle but unfortunately one person identified as a member of the vigilance group was mistakenly killed.

 

“Preliminary investigations showed that the vigilance group also responded to a distress call about the robbery. Members of the group protested the incident, but the situation has been brought under control.”