As the Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up by Governor Godwin Obaseki to look into cases of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations by operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, begins sitting, a petitioner, Mr Issac Edoh has told the panel how his son was allegedly killed by the Police on his way from Auchi to Benin.
Mr. Edoh in his testimony said his son, Isaac Baba Edoh was arrested by the police in Auchi, Edo State in 2011 for kidnapping and was allegedly killed by the operatives who claimed he was shot by armed robbers on their way to Benin for interrogation.
Edoh said: “I saw my son last on 3rd of June 2011 and till date, the whereabouts of my son is unknown to me as the police told me that my son was allegedly killed by armed robbers on their way to Benin City for further investigation.
“I find it difficult to believe this because, in the attack, only my son was killed; no police officer was killed or injured. I asked them to give me his body if he is dead, but the police couldn’t present me with the body.”
He said that his decision to appear before the panel to get justice for his son, Issac Baba Edoh, who he doesn’t know if he is alive or dead.
In another development, Counsel to one of the victims, Barr. Festus Obijeko Uvie told the panel that one Corporal Ogundele brutalised his client, Sunday Akpan who he said lost the use of both ears.
The lawyer said his client, Akpan, was assaulted for over 30 minutes leading to his loss of hearing as well as speech difficulty, which resulted from his ordeal at the station following a domestic dispute with his wife, which was reported at the station.
He said, “Sunday Akpan was brutalised on 28th of December 2019 at Ekiadolor Divisional Police Station and his life has never been the same again. He has not been able to go to the farm since, as he is a farmer.
“He had a domestic dispute with his wife, which was brought for settlement at the station. We have confidence in the panel to ensure we get justice.”
