Edo Stakeholders Petition Okpebholo, NSA, IGP, DG DSS, AIG Zone 5, Edo police commissioner over unlawful arrest of 3rd Phase Amnesty Nat’l Chairman

By Joseph Bienbo

Stakeholders of the Edo State Riverine Communities have raised alarm over the arrest of Hon. Godstime Ogidigba, newly elected national chairman of the Third Phase Amnesty Programme by enemies of Niger Delta.

In a statement signed by Comrade Ezekiel Perela, spokesperson of the Riverine Communities, the group called on Governor Monday Okpebholo and top security officials to intervene in what it described as an unjust persecution.

Full Statement:

“We are calling the attention of His Excellency Governor Monday Okpebolo, NSA, IGP, D.G DSS, AIG Zone 5 and Edo Commissioner of Police to the unjust arrest and persecution of Hon. Godstime Ogidigba, newly elected chairman of the Third Phase Amnesty Delegates Programme.

“What is Nigeria turning to? A country for the highest bidder, where those with economic power gotten mostly through illegal means will have their way.

“Since 2007 Robert Okubo, Pepe Ekeme fia Robert, Pereke Ukulor, Timi Robert, Andrew Igiri, Otta etc have become a menace in the riverine part of Edo State through various criminal activities like kidnapping, illegal logging, sea piracy, armed robbery, murder and attempted murder.

“First kidnapping was carried out in the state by these rogues in 2008 of a South African lady named Vicky.

“In 2013 Ernest Ibinebi was murdered in cold blood by them, in fact Pepe stabbed him on his rib, which led him to bleed to death. They went away with his corpse where none of the family had seen the dead body.

“In 10/12/2020, Pepe Ekeme fia who mastered these fallacious petitions brutally shot one China Samuel on his leg for refusing to join their criminal gang.

“It was on this note that the then Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Dankwara, now AIG, sent a series of invitations to them, which they turned down.

“He therefore directed his men to get them arrested. On hearing this, they ran out of the state till this government came on board.

“Now a certified criminal in the person of Pepe Ekeme fia Robert came up with petitions accusing Godstime of gun running and armed robbery, a pure lie from the pit of hell, just to destroy the innocent young man.

“The most shameful part of this matter is that some of the men handling it are fully aware of the true position of things because they were part of the team Dankwara sent to arrest this same Pepe, Okubo, Andrew, Timi, Pereke and other members of their criminal gang, but today deliberately turned truth, objectivity and professionalism upside down for reason best known to them.

“We are saying that all what Okubo and his killer gang are parading are nothing but cooked up stories that hold no water, on this basis call for the release of our brother.”

As of press time, security authorities have not issued any official response regarding the allegations or the circumstances surrounding Hon. Godstime Ogidigba’s arrest.