The Edo State Police Command has arrested two persons who were allegedly involved in the alleged theft of rubber lumps belonging to Okomu Oil Palm PLC in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The two suspects – Lucky Clark, 52, and Destiny Tibhor, 22 – were paraded on Thursday in Gelegelegbene, Ovia North East LGA of Edo State by SP Bello Kontongs, Police Public Relations Officer, Edo State Command.
Parading the suspects, Kontongs said, Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Philip Ogbadu in an attempt to unravel those behind the attack on rubber plantation belonging to Okomu Oil Palm PLC, where two workers were gunned down, lunched a manhunt for the perpetrators and on the 15th of February 2022 arrested the suspects at Okomu Water Ways.
“The Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Philip Ogbadu in an attempt to unravel those behind the attack on the facilities and personnel of Okomu Oil Palm PLC, launched a manhunt, and on 15th February, the marine police component under SP Courage Ogonmwan, while on patrol intercepted the suspects at Okomu Water Ways.
“They were arrested with Cuplumps of rubber that were stolen from Okomu plantation. The two suspects during interrogation have confessed their involvement. The police after the attack on the facilities of the company did not seat back to watch.
“Further investigation will determine whether they were among those involved in the attack on Okomu Oil Palm plantation or otherwise,” he said.
Speaking, one of the suspects, Destiny Tabhor, said he was hired by one Lucky Clark to transport the lumps from Okomu Ijaw to Sapele before they were arrested.
“I was seating at home when he (Lucky)came to call me to help him carry rubber from Okomu Ijaw to Sapele, so we were on the way when police arrested us and brought us here,” He said.
Recall that two workers of Okomu Oil Palm Plc, in Ovia Southwest Local Government Area of Edo State were on the 2nd of February,2022 killed by unknown gunmen.
The gunmen were said to have invaded the palm plantation, where about seven workers weeding around the premises of the company were shot and two died instantly.