Tension Builds In Edo Ahead Of Guber Election… Okpebholo’s  Convoy Attacked, 1 Cop Dies, 3 Others Injured

The convoy of Edo state APC guber candidate, Monday Okpebholo , was attacked in Benin city  on Thursday and this has reportedly left a policeman among those providing security for him, Mr. Okon,   dead while others were injured.

Gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place in the state on September 21, 2024.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the APC guber candidate’s convoy  and that of the reinstated deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, were attacked  after leaving the Benin Airport on Thursday.

Shaibu, who was impeached by the State House of Assembly on April 8, but was reinstated via a court ruling  on Wednesday , had   arrived at the Benin Airport at about 2 pm  alongside Okpebholo and they had gotten  a rousing welcome .

‘The incident occurred just after 2 p.m. when Okpebholo and several others, including the reinstated  Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, arrived aboard a chartered private jet.

Unknown  gunmen in a Sienna bus at the exit gate opened fire at the convoys of  Okpebholo and Shaibu, which led to a reprisal gunshot by security agents attached to them.

The intervention of the Mobile Squad of the Nigeria Police brought the situation under control while several officers continued shooting to disperse the said attackers as they fled in a Toyota Sienna bus’ an  eyewitness, John, submitted.

Reacting to the development, the state government  in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, laid the blame for the incident at Shaibu’s door.

‘The Edo state Government has observed the level of wanton destruction perpetrated by thugs and elements working in connivance with former Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, in the guise of purportedly enforcing a judgment reinstating him in office.

Shaibu led thugs through the Airport Road axis of Benin City, attacking innocent citizens and unleashing mayhem on private citizens who are going about their lawful businesses.

The State Government, through this statement, is warning Shaibu to desist from this turn to violence in the pretense that he is enforcing a judgment. He is reminded that he is not above the law and is liable for the wanton destruction perpetrated by him and his co-travelers.

Shaibu’s violent tendencies are well documented, and he has been warned at different times by respected figures of society, including the revered Benin Monarch, to shun violence.

We want to reiterate that Shaibu will face the consequences of violence that he has resorted to in pursuit of his aim to return to the Edo State Government House even when he is aware that a stay of execution of the judgment has been filed.

We enjoin the general public to be calm and go about their lawful businesses as government will continue to deploy the instrumentality of the state to restore and maintain law and order in the State in the face of undue provocation’ the statement said.

Okpebholo’s aide, Godswill Inegbe, however pointed the finger at  a  former member of the state APC, who according to him, recently resigned from the party.

‘This (Thursday) afternoon, the motorcade of Senator Monday Okpebholo, the APC governorship candidate, was brutally attacked by members of Edo state Security Network and Edo state government-sponsored thugs allegedly led by a former prominent member of the APC.

During the unprovoked brutal attack, three mobile policemen attached to  Senator Okpebholo  sustained gunshot wounds, while one of the policemen has been declared dead!’ he submitted-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you