BENIN CITY – Pandemonium, as well as panic, fear and confusion enveloped the Sakponba axis of Ikpoba Okha local government area of Edo state, following the dreadful invasion of the area by armed security operatives who were on hand to whisk away a local resident, Mr. Edehi Osato. The incident occurred on March 6th, 2008.
The scenero forced residents of the area to flee in all directions immediately the reason for the arrest of Osato was made known.
An eyewitness account revealed that on March 15th, 2008, an argument broke out between Edehi Festus and some group of Muslim fanatics.
The argument was said to have escalated into a serious one which led to Edehi Festus burning the Muslim Holy Quran, a development Muslim faithfuls viewed as taboo and against the Shaira law which prescribed death penalty for any offender under the Shaira penal code.
The situation was obviously getting out of control when a detachment of mobile policemen was ordered to comb every nook and cranny in search of Edehi Festus who was alleged to have fled into hiding, as he had been declared wanted by the Edo State Command of the Nigerian Police.
It was gathered that the security agents who stormed the house of Edehi Festus next day March 16th, 2008 did not meet him at home but however, asked his father to produce him.
But this was not to be until March 6th, 2008 when the police again stormed and arrested his father as his son could not be found that day.
But for the timely intervention of well-meaning Chiefs and individuals in the community which prompted his release, Festus father would have been detained.
Meanwhile, a statement made available by the Edo State Command of the Nigerian Police to journalists in Benin City stated that one Edehi Festus who is presently at large is wanted in connection with the incident of burning the Holy Quran on March 15th, 2008.
The Command also urged anyone with useful information that could lead to the arrest of Edehi Festus to report at the nearest police station as a ransom reward awaits such individual.
Meanwhile, as at the time of filling this report, the whereabout of Edehi Festus was still unknown.
