Crime/Social Justice
Police arrest man for stealing artefacts worth N500m in Edo
Written By: Jethro Ibileke
05 Sep 2024 11:48 AM
Benin, Edo – The Edo state police command on Wednesday paraded an 18-year-old indigene of Kano state, Adamu Usman, who attempted to steal some artefacts in Chief Gabriel Igbinedion’s residence.
Spokesman to the Edo State Police Command, Moses Joel Yamu, who paraded the suspect before journalists, alongside others arrested for various offences, disclosed that the artifacts were worth about ₦500,000,000.
According to the suspect, Usman, he was trapped by "Juju", a spell believed by Africans to have magical powers.
Usman told journalists that he was deceived by one of his friends, now at large, to come to the Esama of Benin’s house to steal the artefacts but was held down by juju.
“I was deceived by the man that took me there. He did not tell me we were going to steal, but when we got there, he said I should jump the fence and when I jump the fence,” he said.
The Command’s spokesman who paraded the suspects on behalf of the State Commissioner of Police, Nemi Iwo, disclosed that the arrest followed reports of theft of artefacts from the residence of the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion.
He said: “Following reports of theft of artefacts from the residence of the Esama of Benin, Chief Dr. Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion located at Okada Avenue, GRA Benin City, operatives of the Command on surveillance around the residence arrested one Adamu Usman ‘m’ 18yrs on 23/07/2024 at about 0130hrs while trying to steal artifacts.
The worth of the already stolen artefacts is estimated at about Five Hundred Million Naira (N500,000,000.00).
“Upon interrogation, the suspect’s confession led to the arrest of another suspect named Etuk Bassey ‘m’ 36yrs who happened to be the driver who usually conveys these stolen artifacts. The suspects have confessed to the crime while efforts to track and arrest other fleeing suspects is on.”
Spokesman to the Edo State Police Command, Moses Joel Yamu, who paraded the suspect before journalists, alongside others arrested for various offences, disclosed that the artifacts were worth about ₦500,000,000.
According to the suspect, Usman, he was trapped by "Juju", a spell believed by Africans to have magical powers.
Usman told journalists that he was deceived by one of his friends, now at large, to come to the Esama of Benin’s house to steal the artefacts but was held down by juju.
“I was deceived by the man that took me there. He did not tell me we were going to steal, but when we got there, he said I should jump the fence and when I jump the fence,” he said.
The Command’s spokesman who paraded the suspects on behalf of the State Commissioner of Police, Nemi Iwo, disclosed that the arrest followed reports of theft of artefacts from the residence of the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion.
He said: “Following reports of theft of artefacts from the residence of the Esama of Benin, Chief Dr. Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion located at Okada Avenue, GRA Benin City, operatives of the Command on surveillance around the residence arrested one Adamu Usman ‘m’ 18yrs on 23/07/2024 at about 0130hrs while trying to steal artifacts.
The worth of the already stolen artefacts is estimated at about Five Hundred Million Naira (N500,000,000.00).
“Upon interrogation, the suspect’s confession led to the arrest of another suspect named Etuk Bassey ‘m’ 36yrs who happened to be the driver who usually conveys these stolen artifacts. The suspects have confessed to the crime while efforts to track and arrest other fleeing suspects is on.”
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