The elders and people of Ugbogiobo village in Ovia North-East Local Government Area along the Benin-Akure road have appealed to relevant authorities to wade into an alleged false allegation made against their son, ASP Festus Ediae, for allegedly providing guns and ammunitions to youths in the community to cause crisis.
The elders in a statement jointly signed by the Acting Odionwere, Wilson Ehioghae, Peter Orumwense and Augustine Osakpamwan, who are both third and fifth in command in the community, said these allegations were made by one Owen Igbinovia said to be at large and an alleged impostor as Okaighele (Youth Leader) in the community.
Igbinovia had earlier this year reported ASP Festus Ediae to the Police authority, but it was gathered that investigation by the Police high command in Benin City, exonerated Ediae of the allegation while Owen Igbinovia was subsequently arrested.
The elders said the latest allegation in a viral video where one Friday Imasekha, an indigene of Ugbogiobo, who was allegedly shot on October 19, 2024, in Ugbogiobo by Igbinovia led youths made the confessions but claimed to have done it under duress.
Part of the statement reads, “We, the elders view these spurious allegations weighty and capable of denting the reputation of our son and other responsible indigenes of Ugbogiobo. Our son has been serving the Federal Government as a law enforcement agent with utmost diligence and respect for constituted authorities.
“We believe these allegations are meant to malign and bring to disrepute the personality of our sons, particularly ASP Festus Ediae, our son who they consider as their stumbling block in their criminal quest to further unleash mayhem in our village where we have been forcefully sent packing by the erstwhile impostor okaighele.
“However, to prevent any misleading and misinterpretation of the video containing 212q the allegations as being culpable, we find it necessary to put the records straight.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there is no iota of truth in the video circulating in the social media alleging that our son, the Police officer, provides guns and ammunition to the youths in Ugbogiobo.
“We call on the police high command in the country to carry out a thorough investigation on the false accusations levelled against our son by Owen Igbinovia who is currently at large in order to save our son’s reputation”, the statement concludes.
The Edo State Police spokesperson, Moses Yamu, confirmed the incident and stated that investigation is ongoing to verify the claims made in the video.
