The Edo State Government has called on the Federal government to set up an investigative panel to unravel the cause of the shooting that claimed the life of a police officer at the Benin Airport gate on Thursday.
News360 Info reports that a Police Inspector attached to the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo, was shot dead during an attack by suspected political thugs.
The State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, made the call at a press briefing on Friday in Benin City.
Nehikhare said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Funsho Adegboye, was a witness to what happened at the Benin Airport.
According to him, Shaibu got judgment and flew into Benin with his friends and before entering Benin, he mobilised armed thugs to wait for him at the airport.
“And on arrival they unleashed mayhem on the innocent people of Edo State and in the process a Police officer was killed and many others were injured.
The state Commissioner of Police had intelligence report and went to the airport to caution him not to allow his boys to assemble at the airport or anywhere in the state. He defied the advice.
We had appealed the judgement reinstating him as the deputy governor and filled stay of execution immediately we got Certified True Copy (CTC) and he was shown the restraining order from the court.”
Nehikhare called on the commissioner of police to arrest Philip Shaibu, noting that as it stands today, he is no longer the deputy governor and has no immunity.
“We are now calling on the Federal Government and the Inspector General of Police to look into the crisis.
The whole thing happened in the presence of the commissioner of police and he is one of the witnesses,” he added.
Nehikhare vowed that the state government would no longer fold its arms and watch as thugs cause mayhem state.
He stated that efforts are being made to ensure that the violence does not degenerate further, adding that government was resolute that election would be free and fair in the state.
The commissioner, however, alleged that the opposition party wants to draw the attention of the Federal Government and create the impression of anarchy and call for state of emergency.
He urged the public to remain calm.
