UNIBEN student killing: Edo Police Command sends case file to DPP

By Simon Ebegbulem
BARELY 24 hours after the body of the 22 years old University of Benin (UNIBEN) student who was killed by the police last week Wednesday, Ibrahim Momodu, was exhumed for autopsy by the police, the Edo state Police Command yesterday, forwarded the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal Advice.

The state Commissioner of police, Mr Folunsho Adebanjo, who condemned any form of extra judicial killing, disclosed that the DPO of Ogida Police Station, Mrs Carol Afegbai and her orderly PC Amadin Idahosa, who were alleged to have shot at the deceased, have been redeployed with a view to facilitate further investigations into the matter.

It would be recalled that the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole had set up a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the killing of the final year UNIBEN students , following the outcry by the family that their son was not an armed robber contrary to the claim by the police that he was arrested with guns and was shot while evading arrest.

But the Edo CP who briefed newsmen on the incident, expressed the readiness of the police to investigate the matter, just as he urged all the parties to maintain peace while the investigations are carried out.  According to him, “ looking at the scenario now, it might be too early for any one to dismiss either the claim of the police or that of the bereaved family. In order to demonstrate the Edo state Police management team’s  desire for justice and fairness as it concerns this case, the case file has been forwarded to the DPP for legal advice.

“The DPO Ogida Division CSP Carol Afegbai and her orderly  PC Amadin Idahosa who shot the deceased have also been redeployed to facilitate further investigation.

The Command therefore, calls on the general public particularly the family of the deceased and the UNIBEN community to exercise restraint and go about their lawful business as we await the DPP advice on the matter please” he appealed.