By Omoregie Elvis, Benin
A 60-year old woman, Helen Odiazor, yesterday, asked the Edo State
Commissioner of Police to fish out the killers of her son, Melody who
was killed by vigilante group.
Melody was killed the same day his father died.
Already, State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, has waded
into the matter by inviting the Divisional Police Officer of Saint
Saviour Police Station and the vigilante group that killed Melody.
Late Melody, a tipper driver apprentice, was said to have been shot by
some local vigilante at Tipper Garage along Saint Saviour road at
about 9pm when he was returning home after being informed about his
father’s death.
He was said to have been shot alongside two other boys and their
bodies were displayed at the St Saviour Police Station.
His mother, Helen, who was in tears said it was painful for her to
lose her husband and her son the same day.
Helen said her husband died in a hospital on November 8th while she
was informed about her son’s death at about 4am the following day.
She stated that her son was on his way home on hearing the death of
his father when he was shot by Vigilante Men in St Saviour.
The widow insisted that her son was not an armed robber.
Sister of the deceased, Rachel, said policemen told the family that
their brother was not dead but being treated for gunshot injuries.
She said the police refused to disclose the hospital or take the
family to the hospital.
“They said they were three of them that were shot that night. Police
said one died instantly, my brother was seriously injured while one is
in custody.”
However, CP Kokumo said he has invited all parties to a meeting this
evening for proper briefing.
He said the impression given to the police was that vigilante group
had an encounter with armed robbers but that another information has
emerged about the killing.