Edo State which is becoming notorious for high-profile kidnap is in the news again. Reason: Nigeria's legal community and the Nigeria Police Force have been thrown into a state of worry following the kidnap of Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, on his way to Etsako, Edo State and the killing of four policemen, this evening.
The legal luminary was reportedly earlier billed to travel along with the convoy of Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, from Benin City to the governor's hometown, Iyamoh, near Auchi, in Etsako West, but missed the governor's convoy narrowly due the late arrival from Lagos, where he had a court session, to Benin City.
National Daily exclusively gathered that the lawyer was on his way from Benin City between Ehor and Iruekpen, when his kidnappers who were in a Toyota Hilux and a Toyota Camry, shot at the front right-side tyre of the Toyota Prado conveying him.
The sporadic shootings by the gunmen reportedly forced the car to grind to a halt, after which and the gunmen kidnapped their Ozekhome along with his driver. The occupants in a Toyota Camry car that ran into the scene were also kidnapped along.
Our sources further revealed that an eye witness, a motorist, who narrowly escaped from the scene of the crime, because he was driving inward Benin City immediately alerted the police at Ehor Division, that gunmen were wreaking havoc on that portion of the highway.
The policemen who were led by the Divisional Police Officer responded in a Toyota Hilux and a Prado to the distress call were themselves ambushed by the gunmen who shot severally at the police vehicles.
It was gathered that at the end of the shootings, four policemen were lying dead while the Divisional Police Officer who was personally driving the Police Toyota Prado that responded to the distress call was shot in his hand.
On receiving information about the attack, the Edo Police Commissioner led other Senior Police Officers from the Command to the scene of the crime.
On arrival, a search was conducted and mobile phones were found in Ozekhome's car. On checking through one of the phone, a police officer initiated a call to one of the numbers on the phone contact which was saved as 'my wife.'
The voice on the other side of the phone confirmed that the phone belonged to her husband who was a driver of Mike Ozekhome. When the car was described to her on phone, she confirmed that the car belonged to Mike Ozekhome, SAN.
During a further search by the officer files bearing Mike Ozekhome Chambers, his wig, gown and clothing were found in the car.
The Prado, and the bullet ridden cars of the police were all removed from the roadside to the premises of the Ehor Divisional Police Station, which is now being strengthened with the arrival of heavily armed anti-riot police detachments from Benin City. The station is also being supervised by a more senior police officer while the wounded DPO and other survivors are in the hospital.
National Daily learnt that a matching order has been issued by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, to the leadership of the police in the state to track the kidnappers and free their victims.
Oshiomhole is said to have called on all the helmsmen of the various security agencies in the state to do all they can to rescue Ozekhome and other victims.
It will be recalled that the wife, daughter and driver of Supreme Court Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour were kidnapped in similar circumstances in Benin City, in May this year, but later released after undisclosed ransom was paid.
Three members of the gang that kidnapped the wife, daughter and driver of the Supreme Court Justice, were among seven suspects paraded by the State Security Services (SSS) in Benin City, early July.
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