Oyerinde: Oshiomhole wants FG to probe Police, SSS contradictions

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State Wednesday called on President Goodluck Jonathan to set up a high-powered panel of inquiry to look into the contradictions between two federal security agencies, the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service, SSS, over the killing of Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, his Principal Private Secretary.

Comrade Oyerinde was killed by gunmen in his residence in Benin City, on May 4, this year.

In a statement, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Peter Okhiria,  lamented the contradictory statements  and said: “While the SSS paraded some people alleged to have confessed to the killing of Comrade Oyerinde on account of armed robbery, the Nigeria Police also said they have in their custody exactly the same number of persons who allegedly confessed to the killing of Comrade Oyerinde.

“In fact, the Police have gone ahead to arrest one Rev. David Ugolor who is alleged to have been implicated as the sponsor of the murder. In order to clear the position of the Edo State Government, we wish to note the following:

“Following the murder of Comrade Oyerinde, the Governor gave the security agencies a 14-day ultimatum to find the killers. Within a few days of the murder, the governor was informed by the SSS in confidence that they had made some progress, having located Comrade Oyerinde’s telephone and those who bought it and eventually using their own skills, they were able to arrest, one after the other, those who have since confessed that they killed Comrade Oyerinde.

“Subsequently, at about the end of June, the SSS again, apparently to assure the Governor of the progress made, paraded the suspects before the Governor and he had the opportunity to ask some questions, for about 45 minutes, about the murder and they told him who fired the shot, where they stood, who bought the phone and for how much and they also showed him the weapons used and the amount of money they found which was less than fifty thousand naira.

“From the interface with the suspects paraded by the SSS, the Governor was convinced that they were indeed responsible for the murder of Comrade Oyerinde to which they had confessed.”