The Edo State Police Command has arrested three suspects over the murder of a commercial motorcycle rider, Hamisu Sule, who was allegedly lured from Sapele Road to Urhobo Quarters in Ogheghe Community, robbed of his motorcycle and killed.
In a statement, the Command’s spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, identified the suspects as Dominic Habbaku, 36; Chinda Musa, 28; and Samuel Francis, 22. She said operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), working alongside members of the Edo State Security Corps, arrested them following credible intelligence.
According to the police, the suspects confessed to luring the rider under the guise of hiring his services on November 5 before allegedly robbing and m¥rdering him. A raid on an uncompleted building led to their arrest, while the deceased’s TVS motorcycle, eight rounds of live AA amm¥nition, two rounds of live AK-47 ammunition and one live cartridge were recovered.
The suspects subsequently led operatives to Ogheghe Community, where Sule’s corpse was recovered and deposited at a morgue for preservation and autopsy.
In a further development, the police recovered another decomposing body allegedly linked to the same criminal syndicate. The deceased was identified as 27-year-old Ahkilo Usman, whose remains were discovered in a bush at Obagie-Nevbosa, bordering Amagba and Ogheghe communities in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area.
The Command said preliminary findings linked the latest recovery to the syndicate being investigated over Sule’s murder, raising concerns about the possible extent of its criminal activities.
The police said investigations were ongoing to establish the full extent of the syndicate’s operations, identify other possible victims and recover the suspects’ operational weapons. Residents were also urged to report suspicious activities to security agencies.