Police arrest killer cop in Edo, for arraignment today

Operatives of Edo state police command has arrested one Corporal Valentine Fumaka who allegedly shot dead a petrol tanker driver, Osagie Odion Egbon, in Benin City, Edo state, last Saturday.
The trigger-happy mobile policeman attached to Mopol five with force Nos 364780 allegedly shot the 35-year-old for driving against traffic around Ikpoba Hill axis of the metropolis.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Folusho Adebanjo, who confirmed the arrest to newsmen on telephone yesterday, said Valentine would be arraigned in court on Wednesday (today).
Meanwhile, a Coalition of Civil Societies (CSOs) in Edo state yesterday urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubarkar, to stop the spate of police extra-judicial killings in the state.
Speaking during a visit of CSOs to the bereaved family of Odion, the Executive Director, African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David Ugolor, described the circumstances that led to Odion’s as “barbaric and demonic.”
Ugolor urged the IG to set up an independent panel to investigate the 35-year-old death, even as he commended the state police commissioner and Governor Adams Oshiomhole for the steps taken so far.
According to him, “the sole responsibility of the government is to protect lives and property. And when that right is not protected, you will agree with me that the entire people will be under threat.”
Continuing, Ugolor urged the state government to fund the cost of independent autopsy for the deceased and other funeral expenses in order to “spare the bereaved family of double jeopardy.”
On his part, the convener of Edo Forum Against Impunity (EFAI), Comrade Kola Edokpayi urged that the “killer cop be paraded in a manner the police parades criminal suspects.”