Our reporter
The Enwan community in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State has petitioned top security agencies and government bodies, demanding justice over the alleged unlawful killing of a young resident by men suspected to be police officers.
In a strongly worded petition addressed to the Inspector General of Police, the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Edo State Government, the community accused unidentified operatives of executing a brutal, unprovoked attack that led to the death of one Mr Cosmos. The petition was also sent to the Police Service Commission and legislators representing the area at both state and national levels.
The petition, which was made available to journalists in Benin City, was signed by Dr Steve Momoh, Chairman of the Enwan Progressives Forum Elders Council; Comrade Israel Omokhafe, Chairman of the Enwan Progressives Forum; and legal representative, Barrister (Mrs) Rachael Akerele.
According to the petitioners, the suspected officers arrived in a private vehicle, wearing black tactical uniforms marked “RRS EKS” and operated without visible identification, legal warrants, or clear jurisdiction. The community claims the officers confronted residents near Enwan Mixed Secondary School in what they described as an “aggressive and unlawful” manner, which ended in the fatal shooting of Cosmos.
“This operation, disturbingly reminiscent of Gestapo-style tactics, flagrantly violated the principles of due process and the sanctity of human life,” the petition stated, highlighting that the action took place amid ongoing security challenges in the region, including farmer-herder clashes, kidnappings, and ritual-related violence.
The community further alleged that the operatives opened fire while residents, including Cosmos, were merely seeking to understand their purpose in the area. They described the killing as an act of extrajudicial violence and a clear breach of constitutional rights, specifically citing Sections 34, 36, and 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The petitioners also expressed outrage at alleged comments made by one Dr Babatunde, reportedly a staff member at a prominent private university, who they claim defended the operation and made defamatory statements accusing the Enwan community of harbouring criminals and engaging in ritual practices.
“These unfounded accusations amount to dangerous ethnic profiling and a deliberate attempt to malign a peaceful community,” they stated.
The community is calling for an independent investigation to be carried out by a joint panel comprising representatives from the Nigeria Police Headquarters, Edo State Command, human rights groups, and community leaders to ensure transparency and accountability.
They insist that justice must be served, both for the slain youth and to protect the community’s integrity against what they describe as “state-enabled terror and misinformation.”
No official statement has yet been issued by the police or other authorities mentioned in the petition at the time of reporting.
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