From Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
Retired Commissioner of Police, CP Ibezimako Aghanya (retd.) has ruled out assassination in the murder of his wife, Eunice.
Recall that body of Mrs. Eunice Aghanya was found in her Makurdi residence last Saturday after she was murdered by yet to be identified assailants.
The Benue Police Command on Sunday, disclosed that one suspect had been arrested over the murder.
But, CP Aghanya, while recieving the state Governor, Samuel Ortom and top officials of his cabinet on Monday, stated that the murder was purely a case of broad day light robbery.
He explained further that his late wife must have recognized the robber(s) which, according to him, was a reason enough to kill her to conceal their identities.
“It was not a case of hired assasination. Somebody or some persons had broke into the house to steal, when she suddenly entered and saw the intruder(s) whom she probably recognized. So, the intruder killed her to conceal evidence. It was a Broad day light robbery,” he said.
He noted that the intruder(s) who must have been inside the house before his wife came in at about 1pm that fateful Friday, broke into the house through the ceiling.
Responding after being conducted round the house, Governor Ortom who described the murder as very condemnable condoled with CP Aghanya and the entire family over the loss.
The Governor also urged all Benue people to be their brothers keepers by being vigilant and swiftly report any suspicious movement to security agencies for immediate action.
He lamented that despite the promise by President Muhammadu Buhari some years back that 10,000 policemen would be recruited every year to be able to better police the over 200million Nigerian population, nothing had been done in that regard till now.
While noting that it was impossible for only 400,000 policemen to police over 200million people, Ortom urged the Police Service Commission and the Inspector General of Police to quickly resolve their differences to ensure that more policemen are recruited to meet the security need of the country.
“We must all be our brothers keepers. The population has overgrown and the number of police we have can no longer cope with the increasing number of people in a country of over 200million with only 400,000 police. This is grossly inadequate.
“President gave directive that every year, 10,000 police should be recruited. I therefore urge those who are concerned to resolve their matter because if we ever need security, it is now. With the high level of banditry, insurgency, kidnapping and so on, we need more security.
“In the interim, let us all be our brothers keepers. When we sleep, we should be alert in our neighbourhood and promptly report any suspicious movement,” the Governor said.