OVBIOGIE (OVIA NORTH EAST) – The Police in Benin have declared wanted one Best Friday over his alleged connection in the recent attack on officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at Ovbiogie community in Ovia North East of Edo State along the Benin – Lagos road, over the incident that took place on the 15 of November 2018.
Meanwhile, the Police Spokesman of Edo State Police Command, DSP Chidi Nwanbuzor has confirmed the arrest of seven persons over the alleged crime while one Best Friday was still on the run.
Nwanbuzor explained that the suspects from Ovbiogie village attacked the Officers of the NCS while on their legitimate duty at the check – point, burned down their operational vehicle and carted away their guns.
He further explained that the incident occurred following an argument that ensued between a commercial bus driver and the officer of the NCS who flagged him down to conducted a search on the vehicle and discovered two bags of rice said to be contraband into the country.
This, he said apparently led to the gunning down of the bus driver by the officers of the NCS which infuriated the youths in the village that made them take the laws into their hands.
He therefore called on every members of the public to oblige the Command with useful information on the whereabouts of the fleeing Best Friday, even as he revealed that the Police have spread out its dragnet to fish out the suspect for trial.
Investigation by our Crime Correspondent however revealed that Best Friday’s mother was invited to the police station for interrogations about the where about of her son.
It was further learnt that the bus driver refused after he was asked to offload the bags of rice allegedly detected to be contraband by the NCS officers.
This led the villagers to troop out in large numbers angrily and set the operational vehicle of the NCS ablaze, while the officers fled for safety when the villagers overpowered them.
The Police reportedly mobilized its men with a view to raiding the Ovbiogie Community where about seven persons suspected to have participated in the attack on the security agents were arrested.
Upon interrogations, the arrested accused persons confessed that one Best Friday who has since be declared wanted was their leader who masterminded the destruction of the NCS post, and the carting away of its guns as well as goods seized by the customs.
