The Edo State Police Command, on Tuesday, said it had arrested a member of a vigilante group, Abdulralman Agbontaen, who shot and wounded nine kids playing football in Enabulele Street, Ogida Quarters, Benin.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bello Kontongs, who confirmed the incident and Agbontaen’s arrest in a statement, said the injured kids were taken to Stella Obasanjo Hospital for treatment.
The statement read, “At about 09.00hrs on April 23, 2022, following a distress call, one Abdurahma Agbontaen of Enabulele Street, Benin was arrested after shooting at kids playing football on the street.
“He used a pump-action automatic gun in the attack, with nine of the kids sustaining various degrees of injuries and were taken to Stella Obasanjo Hospital for medical attention. The suspect was arrested and the firearm was recovered from him.”
Narrating what transpired on the day of the incident, Agbontaen said he warned the boys to stop playing football having previously destroyed his property with their ball.
The boys did not listen to him and an angry Agbontaen brought out his gun and fired at the boys, injuring nine of them.
Abduralman stated, “I told them to stop playing football in my area and they refused to listen to me. They have used the ball to destroy things in my house and that was why I warned them. I asked them to go elsewhere and they refused.
“I shot the gun out of anger as I suspected them to be members of a secret society. I regret it now and I thank God no one died.”
The Head of Egor Local Government Administration and the Acting Council Chairman, Dr Osaheni Igbinigie, who was at the hospital to see the injured kids, described the incident as shocking, adding, “We want the police to investigate the incident and ensure the right thing is done.”
Kontong added that the suspect’s mental state of health would be checked as part of investigation, noting that he would be arraigned in court for attempted murder and unlawful possession of firearm.
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