FOUR suspects have been arrested in connection with the alleged assassination of Lacombe Dickson Ajtuenwumeshe Emah.
The deceased family members have called on the Inspector-General of Police, to use his good offices to ensure that justice is served over his alleged murder, as they have alleged that some powerful politicians were making frantic efforts to ensure the case was swept under the carpet.
Lacombe was murdered in cold blood by known and identified persons who are of a group of clans in Igarra according to the petition written on behalf of the family by Barrister Moses Akerele in the Law House Attorney.
The family through their lawyer in the petition addressed to the Inspector General of Police and obtained by our reporter expressed concern over the way and manner the case was being handled by the police, stressing that all they need was for the suspects in the case to be arrested and charged to court as available evidence has shown that the case was a clear murder.
“The victim was premeditatedly attacked and gruesomely murdered Dickson Emah on or about 18th January 2021 at Igarra. The said suspects are said to be on the run but have threatened severe hurt to our clients should they attempt to bring them to book. In consequence, our clients and the entire Igarra community have been living in utter apprehension.
“Some persons in the petition, rather than surrender to the police, have surreptitiously embarked on certain actions geared at diverting police attention, or otherwise meddling in or re-tempting police investigation and covering up the dastardly murder of Emah.”
“Sir, we wish to categorically state that the death of Emah was not a case of kidnap but an orchestrated murder/assassination. The available evidence clearly attests to this fact, and this has been furthered evinced by the overall conduct of the suspects.
Our clients are perturbed at the apparent capitulation of the office of the Deputy Commissioner of police, SCID which has so far failed to apprehend any or all of the persons alleged to have viciously attacked and killed Emah on the 18th of January, 2021, but was quick to invite innocent mourners and campaigners for justice on a mere allegation of criminal defamation and unwittingly kowtowing to the dastardly attempt by murder suspects to scuttle police investigation and they have blatantly refused to submit themselves for questioning by the police.”
The family thereby, demands that “A thorough investigation to unravel the circumstances that led to the gruesome murder/assassination of Emah.
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The family of Emah, expressed implicit confidence in the ability of the Inspector General of Police to deliver impeccable investigation and prosecution of all those involved in the killing, just as they appealed to the Commissioner of Police, Edo State not to succumb to pressure from some politicians in the state to subvert justice.
Meanwhile, Senator Obende Domingo has described as wicked, barbaric, and unacceptable that someone’s life will be taken like a chicken in a community where love and brotherhood once existed with pride.
‘I heard of the very recent and unfortunate incident that happened in Igarra in which a young igarra man, Ajituewunmeshe Emah, popularly called Lacomb, was heinously murdered. I am not and will never be in support of any act that will sniff life out of a living soul.
Hence, I implore the security agents, especially the Police to do their job professionally and fish out those that must have committed this crime. We must all support the police rather than working on hearsay so that no innocent person will suffer, but justice melted on the culprits.
The moment the foundation of investigation becomes hearsay, then, the substance of the matter and what led to what happened would have been lost and this should not happen as far as this case is concerned.
‘As a leader, it breaks my heart that the peace and unity which we have worked hard to preserve may be jeopardized if we do not take the proper steps to bring the criminals to justice.
Therefore, I will encourage every and anyone who has information that can lead to the arrest of those who perpetrated this crime to come out and give the information to the police for proper investigation and prosecution of such without fear or favour. Igarra must continue to be one big and peaceful community and I advise that we MUST all come together to add our meaningful value to grow our community for posterity’s sake.’
Also, Comrade Taiwo Akerele, former Chief of Staff to Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki while sympathizing with the immediate family of this young man that was allegedly murdered in his ward and community said the act is very unfortunate and painful.
He however calls for calm and peace to reign, while the security agencies carry out their investigative work comprehensively.
In a related development, one of the suspects in this murder case named Eneshero Onoh Saiki was Sunday the 13th of March arrested by men of the Nigerian police in Igarra the headquarters of Akoko Edo LGA. The police have since taken him into custody.
‘We heard some very senior politicians are trying to influence his release via an administrative bail while still shielding others from been making themselves available for arrest and interrogation over the January 18th murder in Igarra.
The arrested suspect is number 4 on the list of the wanted men by the Nigerian police. The Igarra development association (IDA) had earlier called on the suspects to surrender themselves for police interrogation while calling for calm and warning against reprisal attacks by the aggrieved Eziobe community of Igarra Edo state.’ said Chief Shanu Aiyelabola, The Akuta of Igarra Land.
In the latest development, three more suspects in the persons of one, Adeche Okuo, Shafe Ozaveshe, and Jacob Adanini have all been arrested in connection with the alleged murder of Mr. Lacombe. The Inspector-General has given a matching order to the Edo State Commission of Police to ensure that justice is served.