The Edo State Police Command has apprehended Adamu Usman, an 18-year-old individual from Kano State, for the alleged theft of valuable artifacts estimated to be worth N500 million from the residence of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom.
On Wednesday, September 4, 2024, the state police command paraded Usman and his accomplice among the suspects at the police headquarters in Benin City.
An 18-Year- Old Suspect Who Was Detain For Allegedly Stealing Artifacts Valued At N500 Million From Chief Igbinedion’s Benin Home Claims, “I was caught by juju”
The command’s spokesperson, SP Moses Joel Yamu, stated that Usman was apprehended in response to reports of stolen artifacts 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.
