Edo Police Arrest Two Hunters for Allegedly Shooting Six Burial Guests

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city

The Edo State Police Command has said it arrested two hunters, John Ebatame and Moses Okoyomon, for allegedly shooting and injuring six persons at the burial of one the late Martina Rabi at Ama Community at Esan South East Local Government Area of the state.

The arrest, which was contained a statement signed by the state police spokesman, SP Kontongs Bello, and made available to journalists yesterday in Benin-city, said the men were alleged to have committed the offence on June 25.

According to the statement, “On June 25, 2021, at about 1900hrs, the Edo State Police Command through the Divisional Police Officer, Agbede Division, CSP Iredia Ogiata, received information that there was an ongoing shooting at Ama community. On receipt of the information, the DPO swiftly mobilised police operatives from the division to the scene of the incident.

“On arrival, preliminary investigation revealed that one John Ebatame and Moses Okoyomon were said to have used a double barrel gun to shoot at six persons in the community during a burial ceremony of one late Martina Rabi.

“Investigation further revealed that the two followed the corpse from Ubiaja in Esan South-East LGA to be buried in Ama community. Ebatame is said to be a hunter in Ubiaja, Esan South East LGA, who followed the corpse from Ubiaja to the area where he fired gun shots into the air which resulted in the damage of the community electricity cable.

“The youths of Ama community, on noticing that he had destroyed their electricity cable, confronted him immediately. In the cause of the argument that ensued, he shot at them injuring six persons, Mathew Enebor, Sule Kadiri, Christian Okpoke, Momodu Ambrose, Ibadan Okhere, as well as one other unidentified person. The injured persons are currently receiving treatment at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital.”

The statement added: “The state Commissioner, Phillip Aliyu Ogbadu, warned that no one has the right to threaten other people lives with arms and ammunition. He enjoined the good people of Ama community not to take laws into their hands as investigation into the incident has since commenced.”