Police Lied, Our Son Was Never An Armed Robber, Jailbreaker

The household of Ekata has refuted allegations by the Edo State Police Command that their son, Fidelis Ekata, was an armed robber and jailbreaker.

Naija Information experiences that the Ekata household was reacting to a press release launched by the spokesman of the command, SP Kontongs Bello, claiming that Fidelis was killed in a crossfire with the police at Uromi on March 2, 2022.

Bello had claimed that the sufferer was a infamous armed robber who escaped from the Edo State Correctional Centre in Benin-city, through the Finish SARS protest in October 2020.

He stated the sufferer had been on the police needed listing earlier than he was sighted within the Uromi axis of the state together with his gang members, the place he was gunned down.

The command spokesman added that the deceased died of a gunshot wound he sustained when he engaged the police operatives in a gun duel.

The assertion reads in elements: “Right this moment 02/03/2022 at about 10:00hrs, operatives of Edo State Police Command, appearing on credible data {that a} infamous armed robber/cultist popularly generally known as Ekata and an escapee of the Edo State Correctional Heart Benin through the October 2020 EndSARS protest, who has been on the Command’s needed listing, was sighted someplace in Uromi city within the firm of his different gang members.

“On receipt of the data, the Space Commander, Uromi, instantly deployed a crew of Police Operatives to the placement. On sighting the crew of operatives, the gang opened fireplace on them, whereas the crew gallantly responded.

“Within the ensuing gun duel, one Fidelis Ekata ‘M’ who’s the gang chief of the armed robbers/cultist sustained gunshot accidents and was rushed to Basic Hospital Uromi for remedy however was confirmed lifeless by the Physician on obligation, whereas different gang members escaped with gunshot accidents.

“Effort is on to make sure the arrest of the fleeing gang members. The next objects have been recovered from the lifeless gang chief. One cut-to-size gun and one dwell cartridge.

“In the meantime, the state’s Commissioner of Police, whereas commending the gallantry exhibited by the crew, suggested criminals within the state to eschew criminality or danger being arrested.”

Nonetheless, in a press release made obtainable to Naija Information on Monday, one of many kinfolk of the deceased, Ekata Ogbeide, stated that his brother was gruesomely murdered by the Police.

Ogbeide identified that the deceased was killed by the police in a Leisure Centre on Okhenlen street, Uromi, within the firm of his buddies.

He additionally denied claims that the late Fidelis was a infamous armed robber and a jailbreaker, saying {that a} letter from the Edo State Correctional Centre, Benin Metropolis, dated tenth June 2022, has proven that he was not an inmate within the facility, not to mention an escapee from the jail.

The household consultant maintained that every one indications present that the motion of the police was a case of extra-judicial killing and known as for additional investigations and justice.

Ogbeide famous that the deceased was a household man, married with three kids and a graduate of Political Science from Ambrose Ali College in Ekpoma.