Gunmen have attacked a convoy having the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, and the reinstated deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, killing one of the security operatives.
It was gathered that the incident occurred along Airport Road in Benin, the Edo State capital, when Okpebholo and several others arrived in the city from Abuja aboard a chartered flight on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
A police officer was said to have been shot dead while three others were wounded.
It was not immediately known if Okpebholo was wounded, but he was said to be hospitalised in an undisclosed hospital in Benin.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had, on Wednesday, July 17, voided the impeachment of Shaibu as the deputy governor by the Edo State House of Assembly.
The state government later said it had appealed the judgement.
The gunmen, in a vehicle at the exit gate of the airport, were said to have opened fire on the convoy, leading to an exchange with the security operatives attached to the APC candidate and Shaibu.
The incident forced shops and offices to hurriedly shut down, while majority of motorists abandoned their vehicles and scampered for safety.
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When contacted, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said the incident was being investigated.
“It is premature for the police to confirm at this time until the investigation is concluded,” Nwabuzor told NAN.
Confirming the incident via a statement, Godswill Inegbe, an aide to Okpebholo, said his principal was attacked by some gunmen.
“During the unprovoked attack, three mobile policemen attached to the security detail of Senator Okpebholo were injured and had bullet wounds, while one of the policemen has been feared dead,” Inegbe said.
According to him, Okpebholo was currently on admission in an undisclosed hospital in Benin for medical attention with other members of the entourage.
Meanwhile, a check showed that security had been strengthened at the premises of the Edo State Deputy Governor, Godwins Omobayo, at Osadebey Avenue, to forestall any attack on him.
However, the Edo State Government, in a statement on Thursday, said it has observed the level of destruction perpetrated by thugs allegedly working in connivance with the former deputy governor.
The Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, alleged that Shaibu-led thugs have unleashed mayhem on innocent citizens in the guise of enforcing the judgement reinstating him to office.
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“We want to reiterate that Shaibu will face the consequences of violence he has resorted to in pursuit of his aim to return to the Government House even when he is aware that a stay of execution of the judgement has been filed,” Nehikhare said.
The commissioner enjoined the people of Edo State to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses, saying the government has embarked on restoring peace to the state capital.
Efforts to get Shaibu’s reaction proved abortive.
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