Juliana Francis
Members of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Civil Society Organisations (CSO), and Nigeria Bar Associations (NBA), will not forget the late Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Michael Adams.
They will also not forget the 9th of January 2023, the day the President of the Igueben area Customary Court, Edo State, Precious Aigbonga, was kidnapped.
She was kidnapped on her way to court in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State. She is the wife of Mr Afebu Aigbonoga, PDP Candidate, Etsako West Constituency 1 for the Edo State House of Assembly.
The woman was eventually rescued, but one of the policemen, who facilitated her rescue, DSP Michael Adams died. Adams was attached to the Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Unit of the State Command.
In that unforgettable rescue operation, which was on the 12th of January 2023, the Police team killed two of the kidnappers and recovered 49 rounds of AK47 live ammunition.
The Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Edo State, Chris Nehikhare said Adams who died during the rescue of the kidnapped magistrate did not die of gunshots but of undisclosed natural causes after the rescue operation.
However, it was alleged that he ran into a swampy terrain during the operation which may have caused his death.
On the 13th of January, 2023, the Executive Committee of the NBA, Benin Branch, on behalf of its members, paid a condolence visit to the family of DSP. Adams Michael, in Benin City.
Adams left behind a wife, Mrs Becky Adams, and two infant children who are two years and seven months old respectively.
The Chairman of the Benin Bar, Chief Nosa Francis Edo-Osagie, in a teary-eyed and solemn expression, sympathised with the family of the deceased while assuring them that they were not alone in their grieving moment.
He further assured Mrs Becky Adams of the ready support of the Lion Bar.
Adams enlisted into the police force in 2016. He was redeployed as Second in charge of DTO Esighie Division in 2019 before he was moved to the Anti-Kidnapping section.
Many activists have argued that due to how the policeman died, his widow and children should not be abandoned like the situations of most police personnel who die on duty.
