Shaibu visits community of murdered catholic priest, condemns killing
Brigade Commander, 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Sani Abdullahi (left); Bishop of Auchi Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Gabriel Dunia; Edo State Acting Governor, Philip Shaibu and Edo State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro during a visit to the Catholic Bishop over killing of Rev. Fr. Christopher Odia at St. Michael Catholic Church in Jattu, Ikabigbo in Etsako West Local Government Area, Edo State … yesterday.<br />
Edo State acting Governor, Philip Shaibu, has condemned the killing of a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Christopher Odia, in Ikabigbo, Etsako West Council of the state.
Shaibu, who led other government functionaries and heads of security agencies in the state, yesterday, to Ikabigbo, called for calm among residents in the community.
A statement by the media aide to the state governor, Crusoe Osagie, said Shaibu also commiserated with the Head of Ikabigbo community, Aleghe Braimah; family of a member of the Edo Vigilante Network, who lost his life in an attempt to rescue the priest, Yusuf Nurudeen, and the Ogieneni of Uzairue, Kadiri Omogbai.
Shaibu said he was in the area to commiserate with the Uzairue people and get first-hand knowledge of the incident, saying: “The unfortunate attack resulted in the killing of Rev. Fr. Christopher Odia at St. Michael Catholic Church, Ikabigbo in Etsako West Council. I received briefs from eyewitnesses in the community and assured the troubled community that the assailants would be brought to book and made to pay for their crimes.
“We are pained by the loss of both the reverend father and a member of the vigilante group, who was killed but I am particularly happy with our youths, the vigilante group and the hunters. We also commend the police and the military for their prompt action. We’re very saddened that we lost our loved ones.
“I insisted we must come to see what has happened for ourselves. We have some information already. Last night, I insisted the military should remain in the bush to comb the forest. As we speak, they’re still there because we want to make sure none of the culprits escapes.”
Edo State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, assured the community and relatives of the victims that security outfits will not rest until the criminals are brought to book.
He implored the community to partner with the police and charged anyone taking actions to work within the ambits of the law to ensure they did not run afoul of the law.
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