The Edo State Police Command has arrested 18-year-old Adamu Usman, from Kano State for stealing artefacts worth N500m from the residence of the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion.
Usman and his accomplice were among the suspects paraded by the state police command at the police headquarters in Benin City on Wednesday, September 4, 2024.
The spokesperson of the command, SP Moses Joel Yamu, said Usman was arrested following reports of theft of artefacts from Igbinedion’s residence.
“Following reports of theft of artifacts 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 PPRO said.
“The worth of the already stolen artifacts 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 nameds Etuk Bassey ‘m’ 36yrs who happened to be the driver who usually convey these stolen artifacts.
“The suspects have confessed to the crime while efforts to track and arrest other fleeing suspects is on.”
Speaking to journalists, Usman confessed that he was deceived by one of the suspects (now at large), to come to Esama’s house to steal the artefacts, but that he was caught by some juju at the scene.
“I was deceived by the man that took me there. He did not tell me we were going to steal. When we got there, he said I should jump the fence and when I did so, the security came, and he ran away, while I was caught by juju, because I became confused until the security caught me after which I regained my consciousness,” he said.
