Fresh kidnappings herald resumption of Edo new CP

After months of uncertainty on the status of former Edo State Commissioner of Police (CP), Haliru Gwandu, his successor, Babatunde Johnson Kokumo, finally resumed duties on Monday.

Kokumo was CP Armament, Force Headquarters, Abuja and he arrived the State Police Command Headquarters around 3:51p.m. on Monday.

After inspecting the sentry he was ushered into the CP’s Office where he was received by his predecessor, Gwandu. Thereafter, there was a brief closed door handover ceremony and Gwandu hopped into his waiting official vehicle and left the command.

Kokumo after inspecting some officers at the command immediately convened an emergency meeting of heads of departments and special squads, saying “there is no time to waste, I am starting work right away.” He is the 38th CP in Edo State.

Sooner had he resumed work in the state when kidnappers struck. Suspected herdsmen on Monday kidnapped a retired Superintendent of Police and former Divisional Police Officer of Igarra Police Station, Chief James Omafuaire, his wife and one other person.

They were abducted at his quarry site in Ikpeshi, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area. The other abducted person was a customer, who had arrived at the site to buy stones. The kidnappers were said to have collected the sum of N200,000 from the customer before abducting him.

Meanwhile as he resumed office, kidnapped music icon Osayomore Joseph is still with his abductors over three weeks after he was kidnapped on his way home after a live performance at the palace of the Oba of Benin to march his one year coronation, one of his wives who was with him was shot by the kidnappers.