Fleeing Suspect In Murder Of 3 Vigilantes Arrested By Police At Benin Airport

BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON

As part of an intensified crackdown on cult-related violence across the state, operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested a suspected cultist attempting to flee the state through the Benin Airport in the State capital.

The suspect, identified as Bello Salami, 33, an alleged member of the Maphite Confraternity, was intercepted at the airport last Saturday.

Bello Salami is linked to the recent gruesome murder of three vigilante operatives along Wire Road in Benin City.

The command also took into custody 15 other suspects, recovery deadly arms and ammunition during well-coordinated operations carried out across Edo.

According to a statement issued by the Command spokesman CSP Moses Joel Yamu, the arrests followed credible intelligence and the command’s resolve to rid Edo State of criminal elements.

It was also gathered that fleeing criminals out of Edo recently opted to be using the Benin Airport as a getaway after the State Commissioner of police strategically beefed up security on major roads and waterways across the State.

Our correspondent’s checks revealed that police officers’ visibility on major routes in and outside Benin City has increased significantly.

Detailing the successful operations, CSP Moses Joel Yamu stated that “in another development, on 26th June 2025 at about 1500hrs, while acting on credible Intelligence, operatives of the Aduwawa Division arrested the duo of Abdulahi Eriamiator 18yrs and Moses Humphrey 25yrs all members of the Vikings Confraternity.

“On the same date at about 1800hrs, operatives of the South Ibie Division arrested one Ahmed Hakeem 23yrs a member of the Aye Confraternity.

“Further investigation led to the arrest of Williams Kayode 25yrs, David Sylvester 21yrs, Oshoke Itepu 22yrs, Emmanuel Monday 27yrs and Daniel Ehichioya 21yrs all residents of South Ibie in Etsako West LGA, as well as the recovery of one shotgun, four (4)live cartridges,  two (2) battle axes, one (1) cutlass, a bunker of “ice” an illicit drug in their possession. All of them have confessed to being members of the Aye Confraternity.”

The Police Public Relations Officer further said that operatives of Irrua division in Esan Central local government area of Edo State also arrested one Ogbe Osaghele, 29, of Ebhoakhuale-Ekpoma at Idumebo-Irrua with a cut-to-size shotgun and two (2) live cartridges.

He added that efforts are ongoing to apprehend one Odion Osaghele and two others now at large, who are also members of the Aye Confraternity.

“In the same vein on 28/06/2025, operatives of the Ekpoma Area Command tracked and arrested one Itua Odion 22yrs at a hotel in Ekpoma, through credible information. Upon immediate search of his vehicle, an unregistered Ash Colored Lexus RX 350, one fabricated pistol with two (2) live cartridges were recovered.

“The suspect confessed to be the Esan Area Zonal Leader ie No 1 of Neo Black Movement (NBM) aka Black Axe Confraternity.”

CSP Moses Joel Yamu maintained that on June 29, 2025 operatives of Jattu Division Etsako West local government area of the state raided a flash point along Ibie road and arrested one Hamza Umoru, 27, of Ikabigbo community as the suspect confessed being member of Vikings.

“On the same note, operatives of Auchi Division intercepted and arrested Emmanuel Udeh 27yrs, Kalifa Kabir 24yrs and Ashiru Ahmed 22yrs all of various locations in Auchi in possession of a Jojef Magnum pump action with breech number 23YT0083. The trio disguised as iron scraps scavengers with the firearm concealed in like manner.

“Lastly, today 01/07/2025 at about 0130hrs, the home of one Jerry Orobor ‘m’ 50yrs at No 6 Ewinmandowan street off major road in Amagba community, was raided based on credible information Upon search of his house and premises, one (1) automatic double barrel shotgun with ten (10) live cartridges and one (1) face cap bearing Aye Confraternity logo were recovered from him. The suspect has been taken into custody for further investigation.

“All suspects would be arraigned before the court as soon as investigations are concluded”, CSP Moses Joel Yamu said.