Two sets of suspected criminal gangs headed by a member of Vigilante have been arrested for allegedly conducting illegal security road black/Stop-and-search duty at different locations in Edo State.

Spokesman of the Nigeria police Command in Edo State, SP. Chidi Nwabuzor disclosed this while parading the suspects with arms and ammunition on Friday in Benin City.

He alleged that the suspects were arrested by members of Edo State Vigilante Network on Thursday and handed over to Anti Kidnapping and Cyber-Crime Unit of the Command.

He explained that two of the suspects, Sunday Tapsharp and David Bitrus were arrested on Ihama road by ESN personnel for reportedly conducting illegal road block/Stop-and-Search operation on Thursday July 21, 2022 along with their guns comprising, one Double barrel gun and one single barrel gun with Live Cartridges.

During interrogation, the suspects who were in ESN uniforms and plain clothes, told police that they were employed as Security guards by Sam Sonwu, and assigned to ‘Rest in a Hotel along Ihama road, GRA, Benin City, but they left their beats to form illegal road block, with a view to extorting money from unsuspecting road users”, SP. Nwabuzor said.

He also said, at about 9.p.m on the same day at some members of the ESN, intercepted two persons 28-year-old Richard James and Sunday Ayofe, 35-year-old during Stop-and-Search duty on Country Home road in Oredo Local Government Area of the State, and handed the the criminal suspects to police for investigation.

The police spokesman that police investigation revealed that Ayofe was a member of ESN (Vigilante) attached to Upper Sokponba area in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the State, but left his area of jurisdiction and allegedly recruited other member of the criminal gang to mount the illegal Stop-and-Search duty before they were nemesis caught up with them.

SP. Nwabuzor, assured that the suspects who spoke on the level of their involvement in the alleged crime, will be charge to court for discrete prosecution when investigation is concluded.

According to him, “During interrogated, it was revealed that Ayofe is a Vigilante member attached to Upper Sokponba Unit, but left his area of jurisdiction for illegal beat to form road block, Stop-and-Search on Country Home road, with intent to extort money from Citizens and road users”.

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