Edo vigilante clashes with families of Nigerians killed by personnel

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro

Members of Edo State vigilante Network (ESVN) have reportedly clashed with bereaved Nigerians whose relatives were shot dead by one of its personnel in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the State.
63-year-old woman, Mrs. Lucy Nwaorie and 38-year-old Tony Bassey were allegedly murdered on May 20, 2021 by a vigilante member identified as Mr. Osagie Ufua also known as stone in Efehi Street, off College Road, Aduwawa in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the State.
Fearing attacks by angry youths that could possibly lead to jungle justice, the murder suspect, Mr. Osagie turned himself into police custody after the tragedy.
In search of justice for the murdered Nigerians, on Monday, grieving family members embarked on a peaceful procession to police headquarters in Benin City, but they were attacked at an intersection of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) House road near the Edo State Secretariat of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the State Capital where they addressed the Press.
During the peaceful procession on Monday, about 20 armed vigilante personnel ambushed the mourners and ordered them to abandon the placards they displayed to draw the attention of the public to their plights.
As the tension escalated, a fight broke out between members of vigilante and the defiant mourners, prompting other curious pedestrians and commuters who were caught in the traffic snarl to intervene before the mourners were let-off the hook.
Addressing newsmen earlier at the NUJ Press Centre, Mr. Uche Nwaorie, eldest son of the mother of seven Children who hails from Enugu State, demanded for justice and called for a thorough investigation into the incident which he claimed was a planned attack.
“The alleged killer came to the shop without a gun. Immediately he arrived the shop, he (Osagie) ordered for bullets.
Condemning the behaviour of some lawless vigilante members and residents in the State, former Attorney-General of the State and national President, Committee for the Defence of Human Right (CDHR), Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, called for an overhaul of the local security Network and a reorientation towards checking abuses.