By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
Residents of Iyekogba Community in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, have protested the killing of one Mr. Frank Osagie in the community.
The inhabitants, in their large number with placards that read thus, “the Iyekogba youths and elders want justice for the killing of Frank Osagie, stop cultism in Iyekogba Communities”, marched to the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, calling for immediate actions by the Edo State Commissioner of Police and other relevant security agencies to expedite actions on the investigation of the killing.
Addressing Journalists in Benin, the spokesperson of the group, Bright Uwaifiokun Omoasuen, said the said Frank Osagie was in a meeting in the community when he was attacked and killed while others sustained gunshots wounds.
According to him, “We used to have our regular meetings where we deliberate on matters affecting the community and we were having this meeting on Wednesday the 4th day of June when a car conveying some people drove past us and later drove back with some people with firearms who came out and started shooting sporadically killing Frank Osagie while injuring so many others in the process who are presently receiving treatments in some undisclosed hospitals.
According to him,”The gun shots affected several persons including Mr. Frank Osagie who died when he was being rushed to the hospital and his body presently deposited at the morgue.
He further added that the matter was thereafter reported at the lyekogba Estate Police Division, where the matter is presently being investigated.
“The murder and attempted murder is gruesome, wicked and unacceptable and we demand justice and we therefore respectfully urge you sir, to use your good offices to look into the matter and ensure that justice is done before it degenerates to uncontrollable fracas, where more lives and properties may be destroyed.
He called on the governor of the state, Senator Monday Okpebholo and the state Commissioner of Police to intervene in the case of the gruesome murder of Frank Osagie whom he said was murdered in cold blood without provocations.
“We the members of lyekogba Elders’ Council, a group made up of several communities in Iyekogba, Oredo Ward 2, Benin City, are deeply saddened and outraged by the tragic murder of Frank Osagie who was murdered without any iota of provocation and we are calling on the Edo State Police command to expedite actions on their investigation with a view to bringing the culprits to justice”, the spokesperson added.
When contacted, the Edo State Police command Public Relations Officer, Joel Yamu said he would find out and get back to the reporter.
Receiving the protesters, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State council, Dr. Festus Alenkhe while sympathizing with the protesters, assured them that the Journalists would do their job by reporting the incident just as he appealed to them to go about their protest peacefully.
