The Edo State governor, Mr.. Godwin Obaseki intervention led to the release of a journalist attached to Edo State Government House Press Crew Cameraman, Mr. Emmanuel Oghagbon whose prepubescent frame detail is between 20 and 22-year-old.

Recall that the State government, via a notice dated June 18, 2021, and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical and Urban Development, Chris Abode at the weekend, commenced the demolition exercise from a private property in Aideyan Road, Government Reservation Area (GRA), Benin City, following the expiration of notices earlier served on owners of illegal structures for grossly violating the State Extant Town Planning Laws and Regulations.

Oghagbon was allegedly brutalised by armed police personnel at the Iyekogba police station and destroyed his working tools including a digital video camera worth millions of Naira at about 1: 30p.m on Tuesday in Oredo Local Government Area of the State.

He was attacked for recording the demolition of illegal structures on vast land was donated to construct an ultra model police station by Edo State Governor, but the property was allegedly converted into shopping malls by police officers wives and relatives without appropriate approvals from the relevant regulatory authorities.

Investigation revealed that the journalist, Mr. Oghagbon, was kept in police custody in the pool of his own blood while unspecified number of officials of Public Works Volunteer (PUWOV) who also suffered the same fate, escaped.

It was learnt that after spending about an hour in police cell, information went to Governor Obaseki who stormed Iyekogba police station in company of the State Commissioner of police, Mr. Phillip Ogbadu, and other Senior security personnel, and ordered the release of the detained journalist.

The viably angry Governor had to cancel a function he was presiding over to the police station.

Upon his arrival, officials of the State Ministry of Physical and Urban Development who returned to the site upon sighting the Governor’s convoy, to continue the exercise.

Addressing residents in the area, Obaseki, vowed to leave no stone unturned in punishing the offenders.

He took the wounded journalist to a private hospital for medical attention while a female Divisional police officer (DPO) on charge of Iyekogba police station, went underground when the Governor’s convoy arrived the scene.

The State Commissioner of police, Mr. Phillip Ogbadu after listening to the testimony of the injured journalist, immediately ordered the DPO and other officers involved in the attack to report at his office on Wednesday morning for interrogation.

Details later…