Prominent Media expert and senatorial aspirant under the Labour Party (LP), Comrade Paul Omo Okojie, has strongly condemned the recent mob killings of 16 Northerners in Uromi, Edo State while also calling for the removal of the state Commissioner of Police, Betty Enekpen Isokpan Otimenyin.
Comrade Okojie, who described the tragic incident as a failure of the Police Command to act swiftly, called for the immediate removal of CP Otimenyin, over gross negligence of duty.
According to the press statement he signed and was made available to newsmen he said that the victims, who were burnt alive by an irate mob, were targeted in response to growing tensions over violent kidnappings and attacks on farmers by criminal elements suspected to be operating as terrorists. The gruesome killings have sparked outrage across the country, with many questioning the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies in the region.
Comrade Okojie, expressed deep sadness and outrage over the killings, criticizing the Edo State Police Command for its failure to act decisively to prevent the tragedy. He lamented over the rise in insecurity in Edo Central, particularly in Uromi, where farmers have been under siege from criminal elements without adequate police intervention.
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“It is disheartening that despite repeated calls for proactive policing and intelligence-led security measures, the Edo State Police Command has consistently failed to protect our people,” Okojie stated.
“The brazen nature of these killings suggests not just a breakdown in law enforcement but also a disturbing level of complicity through inaction.”
He further accused CP Otimenyin of dereliction of duty, stating that the police were absent during the lynching and have failed to bring the perpetrators to justice. According to him, the commissioner’s inability to prevent the crisis or respond effectively has emboldened criminals and endangered lives.
Okojie called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and relevant authorities to immediately relieve the Edo State Police Commissioner of her duties and replace her with a competent commissioner of police who will prioritize the safety of Edo residents. He also urged the Edo State Government and federal security agencies to conduct a transparent investigation into the killings and ensure that those responsible, including any complicit security officers, are brought to justice.
“Enough is enough. The people of Edo Central deserve peace, security, and justice,” Okojie asserted.
