By: Eben Enasco Kingsley
The family of Mr. Benson Obode Ubierumu Oke, Idensaba, Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area Edo State, has Cried out to the inspector General of police and all well meaning Nigerians to help sought the where about of their son following his arrest and unknown destination since May 21, 2015 over an alleged involvement in buying a stolen car and armed robbery incident by men and officers said to be attached to SARS division, Ikeja, Lagos.
It was reliably gathered that, the said Benson Obode, 26- year old was arrested by a team of police officers claimed to be from SARS, Ikeja Division Lagos and assisted by SARS attached to the Edo State police Command Benin City at his ohovbe Quarters resident Ikpoba hill and eventually taken to the state command where he was detained and subsequently transferred to Lagos State police command headquarters.
The family spoke person, Mrs. Izehi Osawaru disclosed to our correspondent that it has been a pain in the neck over the arrest and unknown where abut of her kid – brother since May 21, 2015 and have not heard from him whilst this has caused so much apprehension to the family.
According to her, “The whole thing started on May 21, 2015. My brother slept in my house prior to the day he was arrested and I had waked up very early to prepare breakfast for my kids when his phone ranged. As at the time his phone ranged, he was sweeping and cleaning up outside the compound and when I noticed he was not there to pick his calls, I took the phone to him. Few minutes later, Benson drop calls and said he was just informed that his landlord has been arrested because of him. The next moment, he drove off to his rented apartment at Ohovbe quarters. To seek for why his landlord was arrested and molested because of him. Only for me to get a call that some persons who identified themselves as street neighbors held my brother and some police men who were on dreadlocks came and arrested him. I left what I was doing and rushed to the scene. When I got there, I inquired to know his offence that warranted his arrest but the policemen told me I have no right to know. One of them said my brother is an armed robber who has been involved in buying stolen cars.
The next thing, they took him to state command. When I went there they refused us seeing my brother; by then, I called in my lawyer to assist in the whole thing. When the lawyer noticed a foul play, he immediately filed in a petition to the AIG and the police commissioner Edo State.
They told us he has been taken to Abuja, he was not seen. When we further enquired, they directed us to crime unit Lagos State command. We call on all to help locate my brother because we have no one to cry to. Today, no one has said anything meaningful over his where about. All we ask is to know what happened to him.
Confirming the incident, the solicitor to the family, Barrister Peter Ehijinwa said several petition with reference number P10/GEN/43/15
has been written to AIG Zone 5, Benin City, the state police commissioner, police commissioner, Lagos state command and the inspector General of police without proper attention to it and an action taken; stressing that, it is an arbitration to arrest his client without proper channel to investigating the whole issue. He therefore prays the state police commissioner to investigate and let out the whereabouts of Benson Obode.
The officers attached to the SARS Unit Lagos State command who were involved in the arrest of Benson Obode include Corporal, Adeleke Adedeji, Abena John, Henry Shobowale and Oniyo Musa. They were alleged to have arrived Benin in Milk – Color Toyota Highlander Jeep.
Meanwhile, several call attempts put across to the telephone numbers of the commissioners office to get clarity over the situation proved abortive as it was public holiday.
