BENIN CITY- Contrary to allegations that the police in Benin willfully killed a middle-aged man and staff of Protea hotel in their custody last Saturday, a 29-year-old cab driver, yesterday, admitted that he accidentally killed the said man while driving along Sapele road in the state capital on the fateful day.
It will be recalled that accusation of extra-judicial killing was slammed against Edo Police Command over the death of the man identified as Chibuike Edeh.
Also, protests by the deceased family members and friends are still trailing his death even as the police maintained that the victim was knocked down by a car when he attempted to escape while leading investigators to where he hid the N42, 000.00 he allegedly stole from the hotel.
The cab driver (name withheld) and his Toyota Camry 2.2 car marked FUG 93-JD (EDO) were in the custody of Adesuwa Police Division, Sapele road, Benin, yesterday.
Narrating how he accidentally knocked down his victim, the driver stated that about 3pm last Saturday he had earlier took a female passenger from UNIBEN in Ugbowo and was taking her to her destination en route Sapele road by Edo State Library when a man unexpectedly left the walkway and entered the road.
He explained further that he rammed the car into the man before he was able to control the vehicle to a halt distance from that spot.
“As I dey drive along Sapela road after Mega Filling Station small, around Edo State Library, so, na him one boy just run enter road once, as he enter road na, I come hit am.
“As I hit am na, na him people come dey shout, that fear now I come escape for life make them nor come kill me.
“I come go hide, after everywhere don came down na him I come report myself to the police”. The cab driver stated.
Narrating his experience inside the police cell, the cab driver noted that “ as I dey inside cell, the President wan slap me na him I beg am say na small change dey with me.
“He come asked me say wetin bring me come? I come tell am say na one boy I hit for road, say the boy jumped enter road.
“E be like say them don first come tell them say the boy wey them just remove from cell na na go jump enter motor for road.
“Na him them come dey tell me say the boy don first dey complain for inside cell say him don tire for life oh. Say he wan die he wan find wetin wan kill am. Na him dem come sorry for me say na me go jam am”.
Chibuike Edeh, was arrested last Friday after management of Protea Hotel, where he worked accused him of stealing N42, 000 belonging to a customer.
His body was later found along Sapele road by a good Samaritan who took him to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) where he was confirmed dead.
PROTEST MARCH: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and Mrs. Christiana Ede, mother of Mr. Chibuike Ede whose death while allegedly in Police custody is being contested by the family, and friends of the deceased during a protest to the Government House, yesterday.
