Ballot Snatcher Who Killed Two Voters Is Arrested By Police

One of the suspected ballot snatchers who killed two voters at a polling location during the general elections on February 25 has been detained by Edo State Police Command agents.

The suspect, 34-year-old Ehiozomwangie Omoregbe, and his gang stormed into the voting station on the Benin-Sapele road in the Ogheghe community of the Ikpoba Okha LGA and stole ballots for their unidentified principal.

To scatter voters, the criminals opened fire inside the voting centre. However, a stray bullet hit three people, including Mrs Elizabeth Owie and Idahosa Festus Ekhuorutomwen. The first two died instantly, while the third voter miraculously survived.

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Elizabeth was a mother of three children, while Late Idahosa, 25, had a degree in Material and Mythological Engineering from the Federal University of Technology in Akure, Ondo State.

Since February 25, Edo police have been looking for the culprits. Omoregbe was apprehended thanks to intelligence gathered by the Anti-kidnapping and Cybercrime Unit.

Ernest Skube, Aimienogho, also known as Adviser, Victor, also known as Junior Ajaka, and a man named Festus are some of the other named suspects who are now at large.

The suspect, who was detained on May 17, 2023, stated that although they only intended to grab boxes, one of his gang members instead shot at onlookers.

“I was with my friends in the evening of 25 February 2023 when they were quarrelling with one of us that instead of shooting into the air, here just used the nozzle of the gun to face people in the crowd. They accused him of killing people. It was not the intention to kill anyone but to snatch the ballot boxes.” he said.

The arrest was confirmed to the Daily Trust by SP Chidi Nwabuzor, the command’s spokesperson.

“I want to assure the people that other persons named in the murder of the two persons will be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law,” the PPRO added.