The Commissioner of Police in Edo, Funsho Adegboye, has confirmed the killing of a police officer, Insp. Onu Akon in the attack on the Edo governorship candidate of the APC, Sen. Monday Okpebholo.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that gunmen fired at the convoy of the two politicians on Thursday while leaving the Benin Airport shortly after they arrived from Abuja.
NAN reports that Okpebholo was in company of the reinstated deputy governor of Edo, Mr Philips Shaibu.
Adegboye who stated this while addressing newsmen on Friday in Benin, described the incident as unfortunate and preventable.
According to him, if political gladiators and actors play the game by the rules, the event of Thursday would not have happened.
“It is unfortunate we lost him, but it is a very preventable and avoidable issue.
“I want to appeal to all our political gladiators and actors that if we play the game according to the rules, the ugly incident would not have happened.
“I am talking to our political gladiators generally irrespective of party affiliations, including our supporters.
“It is a simple thing, if there is a court case; this has to be pursued to a logical conclusion in the court.
“This will make the job of police simple. Our job is simple if our political gladiators want to make it so.
“The court will direct the bailiff to enforce most judgements.
“It is the duty of the police to protect the bailiff for his safety and the instruction will come from the appropriate quarters,“he said.
The commissioner warned against creation of unnecessary tension, saying Sept. 21 governorship election was still far away.
“Like I said, there are laid down rules and regulations to enforce whatever judgement or counter-judgement you have,” he said.
The Police, according to him, were the most bereaved because the officer was one of the best in the command.
APC, Police disagree over attack on Okpebholo, Shaibu in Edo
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo has accused the state police command of complicity in the attack on its Governorship Candidate, Sen. Monday Okpebholo and the reinstated deputy governor, Philip Shaibu.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that gunmen attacked the two on Thursday while exiting Benin Airport shortly after they arrived from Abuja aboard a chattered flight.
The party, during a press conference on Friday in Benin, called for the sack of the Commissioner of Police, Funso Adegboye.
Kassim Afegbua, Director of Media, APC Campaign Council for the Sept. 21 election, said the ruthless shooting and killing of a policeman was witnessed by the police chief.
Afegbua said the party had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police to look into the case and check how the police commissioner undermined the role of the police.
According to him, some members of the party, who saw the commissioner at the airport shared the intelligence of what was about to happen, but unfortunately, he allegedly ignored it.
“It is disheartening to observe that while the ruthless shootings were going on, Adeboye was on ground at the Benin Airport and he did nothing to repel the vicious attack which led to death of one of his officers.
“As fate would have it, it was our candidate’s police attache that was killed, while our candidate and the deputy governor missed death by the whiskers.
“From eye witness account, it is very clear that some of these hoodlums are members of the Edo Vigilante Netwotk who were fully knitted in their uniforms.
“The Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command has willfully undermined the responsibility placed on him by law, that is protection of lives and property within his jurisdiction.
“As at today, Edo State is in a state of lawlessness occasioned by the non control of the source of weapons been paraded by members of Edo State Vigilante Network whom are recruited without any formal training,” Afegbua said.
The director of media described the attack on the candidate as an assassination attempt as well as a disdan for peace that the state and its people was known for.
Reacting, Adegboye exonerated himself of any wrongdoing during the mayhem.
He refuted a claim that intelligence was shared with him ahead of the attack, saying there was no crisis throughout his stay at the airport.
“I had information that some people gathered at the airport, supporters and I went in there because our goal is to maintain law and order. Where we discover we have a crowd, we will go there.
“So we were there, myself and my men and it was after these people left the airport that we learnt about the shooting which led to the death of the inspector.
“Nobody gave me any intelligence of what was about to happen. There was no single incidence at the premises of the airport,” he said
The commissioner noted, however, that investigation was ongoing and those whose names had been mentioned in the incident would be arrested soon.
I’ll not rest until killers of my aide is brought to book, Okpebholo vows
Senator Monday Okpebholo, Edo governorship candidate of APC for September 21 off-cycle election, says he will not rest until the killers of his security aide, Insp. Onu Akon, are brought to book.
The Commissioner of Police in Edo, Funsho Adegboye on Friday during a news conference confirmed the killing of Akon during the attack on the convoy of the APC candidate and the reinstated deputy governor of the state, Philips Shaibu.
Okpebholo and Shaibu were attacked by gunmen on Thursday at the exit gate of the Benin Airport, on his arrival from Abuja. Akon was killed in the process.
In his condolence message, Okpebholo demanded justice for the police orderly, saying the perpetrators of the unprovoked brutal attack must be charged.
Contrary to a report by the state government earlier on Friday that an opposition was allegedly responsible for the attack, Okpebholo said Shaibu was with him and some of his supporters were also injured.
He said the injured were currently receiving treatments in various hospitals in Benin City.
Okpebholo has expressed sadness and condoled with the family of his orderly during the unprovoked attack.
“I will not rest until the perpetrators of the unprovoked brutal attack on him leading to the cruel and violent killing of Inspector Akon are brought to justice.
“I empathise with the injured members of his convoy, who are receiving treatments in various hospitals in Benin City,” he said.
Okpebholo described the police inspector as good and one of the finest in the Nigeria Police Force.
“Inspector Akon was unreservedly committed to his assigned duty, and due to his exceptional commitment and effective policing we became friends for over 12 years,” he said.
He assured the bereaved family members that the brutal killing of their breadwinner would not be swept under the carpet by any guise.
Okpebholo prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased and speedy recovery for the injured during the attack. (NAN)
