…. Call on Police to Bring Perpetrators to Justice
Bolt drivers under the aegis of E-hailing drivers have protested the killing of one of their members, Henry Osarodion Osemwhenkhai in Benin City.
The bolt drivers who took their protest to the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Press Centre, in the Benin metropolis, called on the Nigeria Police to investigate and bring officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps to justice for allegedly killing their member.
The group while on the protest to register their displeasure over what they described as ‘gruesome murder of their member’ carried placards with inscriptions such as “Enough of the Brutality by Security Agencies,” “Enough is Enough, Bolt Drivers are not Slaves,” and “Justice for Henry”.
Speaking on behalf of the group, a bolt driver, Mr. Festus Nwabuzor, disclosed that late Henry went to drop a passenger at the Castle hotel, situated along Limit Road, off Sapele Road area of Benin City, when one of the lodgers at the hotel, who almost hit with his vehicle came out and beat him up mercilessly.
He stated further that rather for officers of the Civil Defense, who are providing security at the hotel to resolve the issue, they collaborated with the lodger to beat Henry up.
Nwabuzor called on the Nigerian Police and other relevant authorities to carry out proper investigation into the matter, with the aid of the CCTV Camera at the Lodge and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Another bolt driver who spoke on the development, Mr. Rosor, appealed to the state government to wade into the issue and ensure that justice was served in line with the present administration commitment to protect residents of Edo State.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Commend, CSP Moses Yamu confirmed the killing, told newsmen that four officers of the NSCDC have been arrested and were in police custody.
CSP Yamu said Edo State Commissioner of Police, Betty Osetimeyin had ordered proper investigation into the matter before they would be charged to court to face the full wrath of the law.
The police spokesperson assured Edo people that the police would ensure that the matter is followed up to a logical conclusion and see that justice is not just served but seen to have been served.
Earlier, while at the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, the state chairman of the council, Mr. Festus Alenkhe assured the protesting bolt drivers that journalists would do a comprehensive report on the killing of Mr. Henry, by speaking with all those concerned in the matter.
He appealed to them to go about their protest in a peaceful matter and guard against any attempt by hoodlums to hijack the demonstrators.
