The police in Edo State have been urged to fish out the killers of a popular bouncer in Benin City, the state capital.
The bouncer, Bright Idele, 46, popularly called ‘Couche’, was shot to death at a bar (name withheld) by yet-to-be-unmasked gunmen last month.
Condemning the brutal murder of his younger brother, one Lucky Idele said his brother was killed with an AK-47 riffle.
He stated that the bouncer was shot after he prevented some youngsters from smoking weed inside the bar.
He appealed to Edo State government to prevail on the police and other security agencies in the state to investigate and unravel the circumstances surrounding the gruesome murder of his younger brother and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Mr. Idele described his late brother as calm and peaceful just, saying he suspected that his brother was a victim of unhealthy rivalry amongst bar owners in the area.
He dispelled rumours making the rounds that his brother was killed for dating a married woman.
He, however, disclosed that the deceased would be laid to rest on April 19th, 2023.
It was scooped that the armed men stormed the bar at Lawani Street, New Benin area, in an unmarked red E-Class Mercedes Benz about 10:34pm and opened fire on him in front of the building.
The assailants thereafter sped off leaving the bouncer in a pool of his own blood.
A call girl who was inside the club was hit by a stray bullet which pierced the iron gate of the bar during the gun attack. The girl is said to have been discharged from hospital while the popular bouncer is lying in a morgue awaiting burial.
Checks revealed that a female customer to the bar had few days to the unfortunate incident confided in the late popular bouncer that some persons were planning to launch an attack on them.
He was said to have taken the hint with a pinch of salt.
When our reporter paid a covert visit to the spot, a fun-seeker expressed belief that the police were not serious about arresting killers of the popular bouncer.
“Bros! See, nobody dey look for people wey come do that job here that day ooo.
“Make I just clear you bros, dem dey this zone with us. Which information? Police dem dey come enjoy us here, na me tell police say here na hangout zone. If police wan arrest dem right now, they know what to do without your information,” the fun-seeker said in Pidgin English.
When contacted, the Managing Director of the bar, Mr Anajor Lawrence, said he reported to New Benin police station immediately after the attack that night.
Mr Anajor stated further that all that he needed to do for the police to commence discreet investigation had been done.
He noted that the late bouncer had also worked in another of his bars before he was redeployed to the yet-to-be-commissioned bar where he was murdered.
His colleagues at Sunny Okhuakhua gym, a local gym at Edo Street near Iyayi Sawmill, Okhoro, Benin City, unanimously described the late bouncer as a renowned coach, team player and motivator they would ever miss.
Speaking on the murder, the Public Relations Officer, Edo State Police Command, SP Nwabuzor, explained that the case was being investigated by homicide unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department, police headquarters, Benin City.
The police spokesman corroborated the deceased’s elder brother’s statement about the misunderstanding the late bouncer had with some Indian hemp smokers at the bar.
“The boys went out, regrouped and launched an attack. For now the assailants are not known but investigation is ongoing,” he said.
