Ifidon Victor Akhigbe, a patient who survived a previous assault by the gang members, was murdered by six members of a violent cult who invaded a hospital in Uzabba, Edo State, and killed him.
Under the direction of DCP Olatunji Disu, members of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) apprehended the suspects.
Alabi Lucky, Josiah Okon, Agbodion Anthony, Agbodion Victor, Godwin Aikhonria, and Edukpe Ebohon, all from Owan West in Edo State, allegedly also tried to murder Akhigbe Sunday, older brother, to the deceased.
According to the authorities, on January 7, 2022, the suspects raided the deceased’s residence and assaulted him with lethal weapons, including guns, machetes, and axes.
“The victim, who was left in the pool of his blood was rushed to Idonije Hospital, Uzabba for medical attention but brazenly, the hoodlums traced the hospital, overpowered the security men and nurses on duty and macheted the victim to death.
“Furthermore on the 24th of March 2022, after the above incident, one of the cultists named Godwin also attacked the elder brother of the deceased Victor and macheted him three times in the stomach, thereby severely injuring him,”
Godwin attempted to kill him when he was returning from a festival in their community in Edo State, according to the deceased’s elder brother.
Sunday said that the attack occurred less than three days after his return from Abuja, where he had gone to the police to seek justice for his younger brother’s murder.
In his confessional statement to the police, one of the suspects, Josiah Okon, revealed that his gang was responsible for Victor’s death, but claimed that there was a conflict between his gang and that of the deceased over an MP3 player.
Okon, a native of Cross Rivers State who grew up in Edo, said that Lucky nicknamed Demon inducted him into the Vickings Confraternity in 2016. He also said that Ayo Oni initiated him to stealing.
While describing the circumstances that led to Victor’s murder, the suspect said that he gave one of his friends, Sylvester, N3000 (three thousand naira) in 2021, with the promise that N1,000 (one thousand naira) in interest would be paid on the loan.”
A police source at the IRT told Tribune Online, “When Sylvester returned N4,000, the suspect refused to return the MP3 player and still collected the money from the debtor.””
Sylvester reported the incident to several of his friends, including the late Victor, who mobilized to confront Okon and demand that he return the MP3 player to its owner because he had been repaid.
According to the police, Okon, who is a cultist, also reported the incident to his gang, who organized and then assaulted Victor in his house. They followed him to the hospital, where he was rushed, and then murdered him.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the arrest of the suspects to media and praised the IRT operatives for a job well done.
