Concerns have been expressed over the increasing rate of criminal activities in Edo state and, now, much more vocal following the murder of Professor Paul Otasowie, of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Benin.
According to reports, Prof. Otasowie was shot by the armed men in front of his residence on Ekehuan road in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo state on Wednesday night.
Speculations are that the Professor was shot by armed robbers but the Public Relations Officer of the University, Mr. Michael Osasuyi, when contacted, said that the institution was yet to receive the full details of what transpired from the deceased’s family. The deceased has also been described as a very hardworking and dedicated staff and his loss has been described as a huge loss to the university community.
“For now, the University cannot ascertain what had transpired. But we are sending delegates to the house to meet with the family. We commiserate with the family and it is a big blow to the university.
He was one of the persons who have ensured that work is done and done well.”
The PRO of the University also expressed the concerns over the level of insecurity in the state.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Moses Nkombe, said three suspects have been arrested in relation to the murder and are being investigated. DSP Nkambe noted that a neighbor of the deceased had alerted the police on the killing and revealed that nothing was removed from the victim after the incident.
“Our men are investigating the incident to ascertain whether they are robbers or kidnappers.”
Mmeanwhile, the whereabouts of kidnapped veteran musician, Mr. Joseph Osayomore, is still unknown. The Edo-state born musician was kidnapped by gun men on Tuesday night at about 10pm at Orovie village, off Upper-Ekewan Road, Egor Local Government Area and his wife was shot while she pleaded with the kidnappers not to take her husband.
Many are now expressing concerns over the increasing rate of crime in the state following the revelation by the state police command that it had apprehended 207 suspects in 3 months.
The command has ensured that they are doing all within their power to bring the culprits of these nefarious activities to book.
Governor Obaseki claims its all a plan to Extort the State
Governor Godwin Obaseki has called on Edo people to be calm and vigilant as he points fingers at those who he stopped from collecting unfair tax from the poor as being behind the crimes. The Governor stated that their intention is to use well coordinated attacks on innocent Edo people as a means of getting the Government to negotiate with them and continue to feed them fat.
“Edo people, the majority of whom are law-abiding, should be rest assured that the promise to restore sanity to the state have been fulfilled. The state government would never return to the old order. The oppressive actions of different groups who had been fattened over the years by extorting honest and hardworking people in the name of revenue collection have been curbed. No matter the amount of push back from perpetrators, they remain dislodged and would not have any reason to harass honest traders, citizens, and other residents.” Mr. Obaseki said.
