The convoy of the newly reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, and the APC governorship candidate for the upcoming election, Senator Monday Okpebholo, came under heavy attack as they returned to Benin on Thursday.
In what was initially a warm welcome at the Airport, the joy of the two political figures were however short-lived when gunmen opened fire on their convoy, resulting in the death of a police officer, Insp Okon, attached to Okpebholo.
Shaibu, who was impeached by the state House of Assembly on April 8, was reinstated on July 17 by Justice J. K. Omotosho of an Abuja High Court, ruling the impeachment unjust.
Both he and Okpebholo arrived at Benin Airport around 2 pm, greeted by enthusiastic supporters.
Expressing concerns about the security situation while speaking to The Punch, an airport staff member said, “When the plane landed, the way the police officers acted around Shaibu showed that something bad was going to happen. I saw the policeman who was killed. He was outside the VIP lounge waiting for Shaibu’s arrival. I didn’t know that he would lose his life.”
Shortly after the convoy left the airport, gunmen opened fire, killing the policeman and injuring two others.
An eyewitness, John, described the scene: “The incident occurred just after 2 pm when Okpebholo and several others, including the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, arrived aboard a chartered private jet. Unknown gunmen in a Sienna vehicle at the exit gate opened fire at the convoy of Okpebholo and Shaibu. There were reprisal gunshots by armed security details attached to the APC candidate and deputy governor. It took the intervention of the Mobile Squad of the Nigeria Police to bring the situation under control. Several officers continued shooting to disperse the attackers as they fled in the Toyota Sienna bus.”
On his part, Okpebholo’s aide, Godswill Inegbe, accused a prominent former APC member of orchestrating the attack.
“This afternoon, the motorcade of Senator Monday Okpebholo, the APC governorship candidate, was brutally attacked by members of Edo State Security Network led by a former prominent member of the APC. During the unprovoked brutal attack, three mobile policemen attached to the security detail of Senator Okpebholo were injured with bullet wounds, while one of the policemen had been declared dead.” Okpebholo and his entourage are receiving treatment at undisclosed hospitals in Benin.
Sunny Okomayin, a close associate of Shaibu, stated, “Shaibu cannot be blamed for the fracas. His supporters came to the airport to receive him after Wednesday’s judgment. He was attacked alongside Okpebholo as soon as he exited the airport. The narrative being pushed by the government is false.”
The Edo State Government, however, blamed Shaibu for the violence. A statement from Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, read: “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 pretence 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-travellers.”
The statement emphasized Shaibu’s alleged violent tendencies and assured the public of the government’s commitment to maintaining law and order.
“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 the 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 Edo State Police Command, represented by spokesperson Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed that an investigation is underway.
