The Acting Governor of Edo State, Rt Hon Phillip Shuiabu in the company of the Edo State Commissioner of Police Abutu Yaro and other security chiefs, today paid a condolence visit to the Ikabigbo community and the Bishop’s court.
The visit was also to check where the security breach might have emanated from, to re-strategise and emplace measures to avoid future occurrences.
The Acting Governor in his remarks applauded the swift response of the community youths. He commiserated with the community, the Catholic Diocese, and the families of the deceased. He further urged the youths to be more vigilant and proactive by reporting any suspicious movement or strange individuals seen or noticed in the community. He assured them that all hands were on deck to ensure the culprits were arrested to answer for their crimes, adding that the miscreants would not be allowed to continue to wreak havoc in the communities.
Yaro, while commiserating with families of the deceased and the community, assured them that the security architecture of the community would be rejigged as the security agencies in the state were not unaware of the various challenges.
He stressed that joint efforts would be emplaced to ensure that indigenes of the state sleep with both eyes closed. He admonished the youths to keep up the good work by working with relevant security agencies to ensure a peaceful and habitable place for all.
The team visited the murdered Reverend Father’s rectory (residence) where he was kidnapped. They also visited the family of late Nurudeen, the hunter-responder massacred by the kidnappers, the village head of Ikabigbo, King of Uzairue Kingdom, and the Catholic Bishop.
Yaro urged the State to remain calm, that despite the dastardly act, the security architecture of the state remains intact and one of the kidnappers, Mr. Mohammed Babangida was indeed neutralised.
Other members of the visiting team are the commander, of the 4th Brigade, Benin city, Brigadier SA Abdullahi, the Deputy Director of the Department of State Security (DSS), Mr. Bayah Langtong, and the commander of Edo State Security Network, Col. Kole Omimia (Rtd).
