•••KILLING OF SUSPECT, A COVER UP SUILEMAN
••• IT IS ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT – POLICE
The Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Auchi Division, Ayodele Suleiman is in trouble over the killing of the only suspect apprehended in connection with the attack on the Apostle Johnson Suleiman of Omega Fire Ministry.
Following the lynching of the arrested suspected assassin, the Edo State Police Commissioner, AIG Abutu Yaro, on Saturday recalled the DPO, attached to the Auchi Division, Ayodele, for questioning.
According to the police, Ayodele was quizzed by the authorities of the State Command’s Headquarters in Benin on the circumstances surrounding the killing of the suspected assassin.
Recall that Apostle Suleiman’s convoy was on Friday attacked on Warrake Road in Owan East Local Government Area of the state, leading to the death of seven persons, including three policemen.
The Apostle had on Friday night described the attack on his convoy as an assassination attempt on his life.
Speaking via his Twitter handle, on Saturday, Apostle Suleiman averred that the suspect was arrested and handed over to the police alive insisting that the suspected assassin was not killed in the tango.
He alleged that killing the suspect was not necessary saying it was an attempt to cover up the grisly act.
The Edo State Police Command, Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, had stated that Apostle Suleiman was attacked in his residence.
But the the cleric has released two videos showing that he was attacked on the road.
It was gathered that in a trending video of the incident , which has since gone viral, a voiceover was over heard indicating that one of the lifeless bodies on display was that of one of the attackers, who was gunned down in a gun duel with the police.
Apostle Suleiman also denied the claims by the police that his attackers were kidnappers, maintaining that they were hired assassins on a mission to terminate his life.
,“Lies, they weren’t kidnappers. He was caught and handed over and the police killed him immediately. Why? Why killing him on the spot? Who is trying to cover up traces? Suleiman queried.
But responding, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, and deputy spokesperson for the Edo Police Command, Jennifer Iwegbu, in a statement on Saturday said that the CP had recalled the DPO Auchi Division for questioning over the matter.
The statement, titled: “Outgoing CP, Now AIG Abutu Yaro FDC Orders the Interrogation of CSP Ayodele Suleiman, DPO Auchi”, reads:
“As part of the measures of the Command concerning the circumstances that led to the death of one of the surviving members of the monstrous gang that attacked the convoy of Apostle Johnson Suleiman, General overseer of Omega Fire Ministry, the outgoing CP now AIG Abutu Yaro fdc has ordered the withdrawal of CSP Ayodele Suleiman, DPO Auchi for debriefing at the State Headquarters with immediate effect.
“Meanwhile, members of the Public are urged to remain calm and patient as no stone would be left unturned to unearth the circumstances surrounding it”.
Also, the Edo State Police Command also confirmed that Apostle Suileman was attacked on the road.
This was contrary to the statement of the Command’s spokesman, Chidi Nwabuzor, on Friday night that the clergyman was attacked in his home.
According to the command, the attackers of Suleiman were assassins.
The deputy Police Public Relations Officer, DPPRO, Jennifer Iwegbu, ASP, had explained that one of the vehicles used by Suleiman’s assailants had been recovered.
