Apostle Suleman: Edo CP recalls DPO over murder of suspect

The twist in Friday night's deadly attack on the convoy of Omega Fire Ministry General Overseer Apostle Johnson Suleman took on a different dimension on Saturday as the police commissioner of Edo State, AIG Abutu Yaro, has recalled Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Auchi Division, Ayodele Suleiman for the murder of the only suspect arrested in connection with the attack.

Tribune Online has gathered that Ayodele was recalled to command headquarters in Benin for a debriefing on the circumstances surrounding the murder of the suspect.

The Apostle Suleman convoy, it will be recalled, was attacked on Warrake Road in the Owan East local government area of ​​the state, in which seven people, including three policemen, were killed.

The cleric, who said on Friday evening that the attack was an assassination attempt on his life, had traced his setbacks to the 2017 scandals directed against him, stressing that having survived to smear campaigns, his detractors, he claimed he would not be named, resorted to assassination.

But on Saturday, Suleman in another post on his Twitter account alluded to the cover-up by alleging that the suspect shot dead by police had been arrested and handed over alive to police, pointing out that there had no basis for his murder.

The Edo Police Command, through its spokesman, Chidi Nwabuzor, had claimed late Friday that Suleiman had been attacked at his home; a claim that the cleric denied by releasing two videos showing that he was attacked on the road.

A video of the incident, which has since gone viral, has a voiceover indicating that one of the lifeless bodies on display was that of one of the attackers, who was shot dead during a duel with the police.

Almost immediately, Apostle Suleman lied to this claim by alleging that the dead suspect had been turned over alive to the police and wondered who was trying to cover up the attack by killing the suspect.

He also denied police claims that his attackers were kidnappers, insisting they were assassins hired to end his life.

“Lies, they weren't kidnappers. He was caught and handed over and the police killed him immediately. Why? Why kill him on the spot? Who's trying to cover up traces? Suleman asked.

Reacting to the development, Jennifer Iwegbu, Deputy Superintendent of Police, ASP and Deputy Spokesperson for Edo Police Command, in an electronically signed statement, said CP had recalled the DPO Auchi division for questioning on the subject.

The text of the statement in two paragraphs, titled: "Outgoing CP, now AIG Abutu Yaro FDC orders the interrogation of CSP Ayodele Suleiman, DPO Auchi", reads as follows:

"As part of the Command's action regarding the circumstances leading to the death of one of the surviving members of the monstrous gang that attacked the convoy of Apostle Johnson Suleman, General Overseer of the Omega Fire Department, outgoing CP turned AIG Abutu Yaro fdc has ordered the withdrawal of CSP Ayodele Suleman, DPO Auchi for debriefing at State Headquarters with immediate effect.

"In the meantime, members of the public are asked to remain calm and patient as no effort will be spared in uncovering the circumstances surrounding him. »

In a related development, Edo Police Command also confirmed that Apostle Suleman was attacked on the road, contrary to claims by command spokesman Chidi Nwabuzor on Friday evening, according to which the clergyman had been attacked at his house.

Exactly as Command said they suspected Suleiman's attackers were assassins.

A statement released and approved by Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, DPPRO, Jennifer Iwegbu, ASP, said one of the vehicles used by Suleman's attackers had been recovered.< /p>

The text of the declaration reads as follows:

"The Edo State Police Command was overwhelmed by an ugly incident which occurred yesterday 10/21/22 at approximately 5:45 PM along the Warreke-Auchi road in the Edo State, where the convoy vehicle of the General Overseer of Omega Ministry of Fire, Apostle Johnson Suleman was attacked by unknown assailants suspected of being assassins.

“During the attack, 3 police officers, Insp Igbaugba Paragon, Insp Afensumu Philip, Insp Akpolor Monday who are all aides of the Apostle and 3 civilians, Ahmed Promise 'M', Momoh Ilegogie 'M', and Janet, surname unknown "F", were shot by the assailants while a Vera, surname unknown "F", was believed to have been taken away by the assailants.

"On receiving this information, DPO Auchi immediately mobilized police officers, gave chase to the attackers and engaged them. One of the attackers...