A trigger happy vigilante member has been arrested and detained by the Edo state police after killing a 21-year-old man, identified as Kelvin Onyedikachi Ochioka, over false alarm.
Newspread gathered that the incident, which happened at about 3:35pm, December 25 at 23, Erhunmwunsee Street, off Ehakpen Street, Uzebu Quarters, Benin City has thrown the community into mourning.
It was further revealed that the deceased, a telephone accessory hawker, had a minor quarrel with a member of the community simply known as aunty Nurse, who then raised a false alarm, accusing the deceased of theft, prompting the vigilante to shoot the deceased.
A friend of the deceased who gave his name as Silas narrated how he witnessed the vigilante, clad in mufti, scaled the fence and opened fire on the deceased, after the Nurse who earlier in the day, argued with the deceased over the sound of music coming from his room later raised false alarm and accused the victim of theft.
Silas, in his words, said: “A few hours after the verbal confrontation because of the sound from our MP3, aunty Nurse started shouting “thief oh! thief oh”.
“The vigilante on hearing the alarm scaled the fence and shot my friend on the stomach on sighting him, leaving him to die.”
Irate residents, while registering their displeasure on the incident, condemned the killing and called on the police to ensure the deceased who they said is not known for theft gets justice.
A resident who pleaded to remain anonymous expressed displeasure on the fact that the woman alarmist is walking freely as other redidents joined voices to question the action of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Evbuotubu Police Station, who released aunty Nurse to be walking freely after the incident.
When contacted on Wednesday, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, the Edo State police Command spokesperson, confirmed the incident.
He explained that it has been confirmed to be a fake alarm, and the woman alarmist was initially arrested and released on bail.
SP Nwabuzor, while calling for calm, added that the killer vigilante and his single barrel gun are still in police custody, pending when investigation, which is ongoing, will be concluded.