About 63 people were Wednesday arrested in Ozanogogo town, Ika South local government area of Delta State by soldiers of 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in connection with the kidnapping of Prof. Kamene Okonjo, wife of the Ogwashi-Uku Monarch and mother of the Minister of Finance, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Over 30 soldiers stormed the town in the evening hour when the men of the small community were returning from their various farms and other places.
Jerry Opute who spoke to P.M. NEWS on phone, lamented the indiscriminate arrest of citizens of his community, which he said has led to people deserting the town and other neighbouring communities.
“According to the reports from my people, soldiers from the 4 Brigade in Benin invaded the town in the evening of Wednesday, and arrested whoever they see. My younger brother, Gaius, who was returning from farm was arrested. Two of my cousins were also arrested with one of their in-laws who came from Benin where they were meeting to arrange the burial ceremony of their father.
“Come to think of it; what would a kidnapper who was demanding hundreds of millions of Naira be doing in the farm? I am of the opinion that security operatives should make arrest based on security and intelligence reports, rather than engaging in indiscriminate arrest of innocent farmers who know next to nothing about kidnapping,” Jerry lamented.
He therefore called on relevant authorities to look elsewhere for the kidnappers of the Monarch’s wife and release their innocent kinsmen whom he said were “mere farmers still struggling to cope with the shock and after effect of the flood that sacked their community.”
The Public Relations Officer of the 4 Brigade, Captain Rose Managbe, confirmed the arrest of the 63 suspects to P.M. NEWS in her office in Benin.
Meanwhile, the police have debunked rumours this morning that the kidnapped Queen of Oguwashi-Uku Prof. Okonjo might have been killed.
A caller who did not disclose his identity told P.M. NEWS on phone that her dead body was sighted somewhere along Omomo Road, close to Agbor-Obi, in Delta State. When contacted on phone, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Ikechukwu Aduba, said he was not aware of the report.
“I am not aware of that. That is the height of falsehood. I am in contact with the Agbor DPO, and he has not briefed me of anything like that,” Aduba said.
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They have missed it...... how can you make arrest without concrete evidence or credible basis? For crying out loud, The military should stop harassing innocent citizens, its uncalled for. If they (farmers/villagers) are responsible for the unfortunate incident, would they still be in the village knowing fully well the dangers of doing so? no way, I dont think so. However, I saw it coming, innocent people will always be used as scape goats as events unfolds.
ReplyDeleteI mean, 63 "suspects"? Dats too much a number. Wat r they goin to do to dem? Torture dem to confess to unknwn crime? Or d fact dat som of dem might av witnessed d kidnapping? I tink they shud deal with d security men dat wud av prevented d attack dan innocent souls. U never can tel though, some of these farmers are silent killers oo who will collect smaller money and kidnap for d kingpin
ReplyDeleteNo be mumu dey worry all of them? Together with their mumu Commander in Chief..clueless buffoons! they can always conveniently harrass hapless citizens only for them to go jelly at the mention of the so and so group up north...*hissing* useless zombies
ReplyDeleteHow can you do that to poor people.
ReplyDeleteKidnapping is a coded work that only involve a few people with criminal brain, not those that are struggling to get food .
Na wa o .
While trying to get this ANIMALS security agent's should be lenient with the villagers please this has nothing to do with them.
ReplyDeleteOkonjo Has been fighting with Oil Barons for the good of this Nation,I also advice Nigerians to mind their language. We are not supposed to sit and talk bad about the little few who are doing well in service delivery.
My Prayer for our dear Sisters is that they should release her mother normata what it takes,because the kind of people she is fighting are not even after the Money.
They might decide to kill her mother just to demoralize her in service delivery,May GOD never allow that to happen.
Am really surprise that while fighting this good fight there were no tight security network around her Love ones. MAY GOD HELP HER.