Benin City – Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), has condemn the arrests of some youths in Benin city by men of Edo state police command.

The youths were said to have been arrested for allegedly embarking on a riot to express their displeasure over the role of police in the death of David Okoniba recently.

The Coordinator General, EDOCSO, Comr Omobude Agho who condemned the arrests of the youths during the general assembly of the organization over the weekend in Benin city, called for their immediate release from custody.

The EDOCSO Coordinator General added, “instead of the police to allow sleeping dogs lie, I think the police should be highly embarrassed that the ‘give me give me’ they ask from roadblock has led to the death of a citizen.

“In a protest there are leaders, but in a riot there are none, so were did they (police) arrived at arresting some boys when there was no one or CCTV cameras identifying them?”

While commending Governor Godwin Obaseki and ComPol Johnson Kokumo, for their visit to the deceased family and plans to assist them, Agho affirmed an earlier statement by the group, signed by it Public Relations Officer, Comr Osazee Edigin, calling on the police to be more professional when discharging their duties.

The statement urged the Edo CP to work with IG of police, Ibrahim Idris to overhaul police formations in the state to check officers whose activities is bent on ridiculing the force.

EDOCSO Which had earlier paid similar condolence visit to the late David’s family, appealed to youths in the state to exercise some level of patience and refrain from the destruction of public properties bought with taxpayers money.

It would be recalled that on 6th February, 2018 some police officers from Esigie Police Division on a “stop and check” routine at Igun junction by M. M. Way, adjacent Ikpoba slope, had a disagreement with the deceased on the collection of certain amount of money.

However, the police disclosed recently that the command has identified, arrested and are investigating members of the alleged police team whose conduct caused the riot.

Meanwhile, the organization had announced the proscription of some affiliate groups for what it described, as nonparticipation in the network’s activities without reasons.

The groups are: Vigilante Group, Foundation For Civilized Society, Edo Youth Congress, and African Crusaders For Social Change.