Edo monarch refutes report on possession of police rifle

THE traditional ruler of Sasaro in Akoko-Edo Local Council of Edo State, Oba Azutorome Unuaikhazor in whose residence it was reported that a police missing rifle was found, has denied the allegation, saying that rather, the rifle was kept in the palace for safety when suspected hoodlums seized it from a policeman who escorted expatriate workers to report the death of one of his subjects in their quarry company.

Speaking to journalists yesterday at the Edo State secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), he described the report as untrue and a clear misrepresentation of what transpired, adding that he “took the rifle for safety in order not to fall into wrong hands.”

He said: “There is a quarry company we gave land to be doing their business but last week an employee who is their worker fell into a pit and died and members of the Community who saw him rushed him to the hospital in Igarra where he later died. They brought the corpse to the family where plan was being made for burial but later, news came that it was the Lebanese people that caused his death.

“Some members related to the deceased and some youths demonstrated to the company. When I heard of it, I tried to intervene but I couldn’t control the angry youths, I was not happy about it. Even the company’s car that was parked in my palace was destroyed. Policemen came to rescue the situation at the site and in the process, one Moses Afegbai was shot and he is still receiving treatment at a hospital in Igarra.

“ I was the one who invited the DPO to my palace and I apologise over what happened and I told him the gun was recovered for safety so that it would not fall into wrong hands. I took the gun and gave it to him. As he was about leaving, he said the Commissioner of Police asked him to come along with me. The CP saw me and I narrated what happened. I was surprised about the misinformation that there was a search and the gun was found in my bedroom. There was no police search in my house and no search warrant was issued whatsoever,” he added.