The Edo state police command Tuesday described as fake and misleading, a viral video on social media platforms purporting that herdsmen blocked the Benin-Lagos expressway and killed five persons in Ugbogui community in the state.
The command also said the report is dangerous and an attempt by “mischief makers to incite the public against the police.”
In a statement issued by the police spokesman, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor , the police said one John Owen and Godwin Abubu of Ugbogui village reported to Iguobazuwa police division on February 18, 2020, “the kidnap of one Adebayo Abubu from his farm by Fulani herdsmen numbering 10.”
Nwabuzor said, “The divisional police officer mobilised his operatives and recovered a cutlass suspected to be that of the kidnappers.
“And on 22nd February, 2020 at about 10:45 hours, three men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen were arrested by the police in connection with the death of the victim through credible intelligence.
“The police thereafter took the suspects and Mr. Adebayo’s family to the farm where his body was found and recovered.
“On their way while taking the corpse to the mortuary, some Ugbgui youth intercepted the police, hijacked the corpse and laid it down on the Benin-Lagos expressway; thereby causing a terrible traffic for several hours.”
Continuing, Nwabuzor said: “It took the intervention of police, the army and elders of Ugbogui to retrieve Mr. Abudu’s dead body from the youth and later deposited at the mortuary, while normalcy was restored.”
