Edo police claimed on Sunday that it was combing the forest for the murders of Olajide Sowore, the younger brother of Omoyele Sowore, owner of the Sahara Reporters and human rights activist.

The guarantee was given in Benin by Kontongs Bello, the Edo Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), while he was speaking to reporters at the time.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, suspected kidnappers assassinated Sowore in Okada, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo state.

He said, “It has become very necessary for the police to inform the general public that the police are on top of the situation since the incident happened yesterday (Saturday) at about 6.45 am.

“Bush combing has started yesterday and the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Philip Ogbadu, has directed that all the tactical teams and the Divisional Police in Okada join hands in combing the forest.

In Okada, the vigilantes from the community, together with the police team from the state headquarters, and the divisional police officers in the region are all working together to search and capture the criminals, as well as rescue five other people who are still held captive by the kidnappers

According to the statement, Sowore was not one of the passengers on a commercial bus owned by a private company that was hijacked at approximately 2 a.m. and later became a target for the kidnappers.

“Sowore, who was coming from Okada and was going towards Benin, was just a victim whom they tried to stop and he refused and they shot at his car.

“The Commissioner of Police is doing everything possible to ensure that these people are arrested and those kidnapped are rescued,“ according to the statement.

There has been no communication established between the kidnappers and the families of their victims, according to the statement. (NAN)