The family of Okoemu Joshua Junior has accused the Nigerian police of conducting an unlawful raid and mass arrest, asserting that their son is innocent of any involvement in the killing of 16 northern hunters in Uromi, Edo State.
Expressing shock and distress over Junior’s arrest, the family described the incident as a severe miscarriage of justice. They claimed that security operatives forcibly entered their home and detained him without any substantial evidence linking him to the tragic event.
According to information obtained by Drivetvnews, Junior was asleep at around 5 AM on Sunday when police officers stormed his room and took him into custody. A family member revealed that on the day the incident occurred, Junior had been at work at a construction site and was not present during the mob attack in Uromi. Another relative corroborated this, stating that Junior arrived at the scene only after the violence had already taken place.
On March 30, at approximately 5 AM, police officers allegedly raided their father’s residence, breaking through the perimeter fence and two entrance gates to gain entry. Upon entering, they found Junior and his father asleep in a room. The officers reportedly asked the father if he was alone, and when he responded that his son was also there, they ordered him to wake Junior up. After he did so, the officers instructed Junior to put on his shirt and then took him away. Since then, the family has been unable to determine his whereabouts.
“Our elderly father is now alone in the house, and none of us are nearby to visit the police station to check if Junior is being held there,” a family member told SaharaReporters.
They explained that Junior had previously lived in Lagos but relocated to Uromi to stay with his father, a retired high school principal. When news of the violent incident in Uromi surfaced, a relative contacted their father, who reported being unable to step outside due to the prevailing tension. When asked about Junior’s whereabouts at the time, the father confirmed that he had gone to work.
The father also strongly condemned the mob attack and the actions of the vigilante groups involved, stating that they had been harassing residents and destroying motorcycles in the area. Given that their home is located on Goodwill Street, near the junction where the incident occurred, the police started conducting raids on houses in the neighborhood.
A family source emphasized Junior’s innocence, stating, “My cousin was not home when the mob attack happened in Uromi; he arrived after the incident had already taken place. Early this morning, at around 5 AM on March 30, the police came to my father’s house. They forcefully broke through the fence and two entrance gates before gaining access to the property.
“At that time, my father and cousin were asleep. The officers asked my father if he was alone, and he replied that he was with his son. They then asked him to wake Junior up. Once he did, the police instructed my cousin to put on his shirt and took him away. We still do not know where he is.”
The source continued, “Now, only my elderly father remains in the house alone, and none of us are around to visit the police station to verify Junior’s whereabouts. My cousin had been living in Lagos but moved to Uromi to care for my father, who has been retired for many years.”
“When I first heard about the situation in Uromi, I immediately called my father. He told me he could not even step outside due to the fear and tension. When I inquired about my cousin, he confirmed that Junior had left for work. During our conversation, we both condemned the mob attack. My father even questioned the claims made against the victims, asking whether kidnappers typically carried dogs and farm tools. He said he had never seen such an event unfold near their home before.”
“Additionally, he explained how vigilantes had been destroying people’s motorcycles and mistreating residents. My father’s house is located on Goodwill Street, close to where the incident took place. Following the attack, the police began conducting house-to-house raids in the area.”
“My cousin is completely innocent of the crime he has been accused of,” the source reiterated.
When SaharaReporters reached out to SP Moses Yamu, the Public Relations Officer for the Edo State Police Command, he responded, “I will get back to you.”
