POLICE ARREST THREE OVER KILLING OF ARTISANS MISTAKEN FOR ROBBERS IN EDO

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The Edo State Police Command on Monday confirmed the arrest of three suspects for their involvement in the killing of two artisans who were mistaken for armed robbers in Benin, the state capital.

The suspects are Frank Abolo, 37, Samson Odewole, 22, and Happy Ohiowere, 25.

The state police spokesman, SP. Moses Yamu, who confirmed the incident, said the three suspects have been charged with murder.

Yamu said, “The command is aware of the incident where two young boys met their unfortunate end.

“The command commenced an investigation in that regard and immediately arrested three suspects, while two other suspects are at large. Those arrested have since been charged.”

It was gathered that the incident took place early this month in Amagba Community in the Oredo Local Government Area of the state.

The artisans identified as Osamudiamen Ehigie and Nosa Aghimie reportedly worked as welders but were mistaken for armed robbers and were beaten to death by mobs in Benin.

They were said to be returning from a project site in Amagba around 6pm on the day when they ran into gunmen who had just robbed in the area.

It was gathered that the gunmen gave the duo a hot pursuit, and in the ensuing confusion, Ehigie and Aghimie ran into a house in the vicinity and hid themselves.

It was further gathered that residents in the neighbourhood who mistook the two individuals for the robbers apprehended them and beat them to death.

Consequently, a police preliminary investigation exonerated the two artisans from the said crime.

The owner of the site where they went to work also reportedly affirmed their innocence.

To this end, police operatives arrested three suspects alleged to have been directly involved in the lynching.