The Forward Operational Base of the Nigerian Navy and the family of Omosebine Efotan have disagreed over the circumstances surrounding his alleged killing by some officers of the base at Abe-Oroyo in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The 26-year-old Efotan, an outboard engine mechanic was allegedly killed by some officers of the Orioke-Iwamimo Command Unit of the Nigerian Navy on August 2, 2016 when the latter were in the town to settle a disagreement between two members of the community over issue of debt of N20,000.
Speaking on the matter on Monday, the Commanding Officer of FOB of the Navy, Igbokoda, Capt. Nyako Lamiri, alleged that the deceased was a leader of some violent youths in the area, who attacked the naval officers that went to settle a disagreement between two members of the community at the palace of the traditional ruler of the town.
According to him, on the fateful day, one Kehinde Egbayelo, a resident of Abe-Oroyo community, reported a case of threat to his life at the Naval Outpost at Ori-Oke Iwamimo, in the coastal community. He said mmediately the complaint was made, three naval officers, who were on routine patrol were sent to the area to investigate the matter.
He said, “As soon as they (naval officers) arrived, the traditional ruler of the community intervened in the matter and it was amicably settled. It was when the officers were going back that a group of youths armed with charms and other dangerous weapons, emerged from the community and attacked them. One of the officers was pushed into the big river in the community, fortunately he could swim.
“The deceased, who was later identified as the kingpin of the group, later attacked one of the officers, punched him in the face. The development made the other officer to shoot into the air, apparently to prevent the group from attacking them more.
“Efotan was struggling to collect the gun of one of the officers, it was in the process that he was shot and he died.”
Lamiri stated that the incident was unfortunate as the officers and men of the Navy had been having cordial relationship with members of the communities in the riverine areas of the state.
However the Efotan’s family insisted the deceased was killed in cold blood by the naval officers, alleging that the officers were fond of perpetrating illegal activities in the riverine communities of the state.
The deceased’s family spokesman, Mr. Adeolu Efotan, who spoke with our correspondent on Monday, described the deceased as a gentle man and not notorious as being described, saying he was killed by the naval officers when he refused to remove an outboard engine for the officers.
He narrated, “The boy was sitting at his workshop when the naval officers approached him to remove an outboard engine belonging to one of the persons that were fighting over the issue of debt. The matter that they came to the community for had been settled and they still wanted to take the engine away so that the owner could come and bail it from them.
“They asked him to remove the engine from the boat and he refused, it was during the argument that one of the officers brought out the gun and shot him in the chest. The navy has not told the truth about the matter. They want to cover it up, but we would not allow them. That is not the first time they would be terrorising the community.”
The traditional ruler of Abe-Oroyo community, Chief Adolphus Efotan, also confirmed that the deceased was a youth leader in the community. He also alleged that the victim was killed while trying to collect the rifle of a naval officer.
The traditional ruler further alleged that some youths including the deceased and his group attacked the officers on their way back to their outpost.
“All we want in the community is peace, the naval officers are our friends. They were the ones that have been protecting us. We have made several efforts to request for a police post in the community, but all our efforts have proved abortive. If not for the naval outpost that is very close to us, we would have been without any security,” he stated.
No comments:
Post a Comment