By Jethro Ibileke
A yet-to-be-named military operative has been identified as the one responsible for the shooting of 32-year-old Osagie Abraham during the massive protest that rocked Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State on Saturday.
Youths and students had taken to the streets of the University community, barricading the ever-busy Benin-Auchi highway, over the killing of a kidnap victim by his abductors a day before the protest.
The State Police Command Spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, in a statement on Sunday, disclosed that the military personnel involved in the shooting incident have been identified and the appropriate military authorities have been formally notified for necessary administrative and disciplinary action in line with established protocols.
Ikoedem further disclosed that unscrupulous persons who hijacked the protest and engaged in acts of violence, vandalism, and looting have also been identified and arrested, and thorough investigations are ongoing to ensure that all culpable persons are brought to justice.
“Regrettably, the protest was hijacked, and all the rules of peaceful protest were ignored, which led to incidents including malicious damages, looting of property, vandalisation of shops, as well as a military personnel member discharging firearms at a protester.
“In response to the sudden escalation, the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, promptly led additional tactical reinforcements from the State Command Headquarters, Benin, to Ekpoma to reinforce operational control, restore public order, and prevent further degeneration of the situation.
“Through coordinated deployments, strategic positioning of personnel, and professional crowd control measures, normalcy was swiftly restored across the affected areas.”
The police Spokesperson added that CP Agbonika has personally visited the victim, who is presently receiving medical attention at Eromoele Medical Center, Ekpoma.
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