The victorious homecoming of court-reinstated Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, turned bloody on Thursday.
Akor Onu, a police inspector, was shot dead while some of his colleagues and passers-by were injured by thugs.
Onu was attached to Monday Okpebholo, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the September 21 Edo State election.
All the injured were taken to undisclosed hospitals in the state capital, Benin. The Nation could not ascertain as of press time if Okpebholo, who was also admitted at another hospital sustained an injury.
Military personnel and other security operatives were deployed in the area and other parts of Benin and its environs, to prevent reprisal.
Edo Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Chidi Nwabuzor could not be reached for comment.
Shaibu and Okpebholo arrived at the Benin Airport at 1:18 pm and were welcomed by their supporters who sang and danced in celebration of their Wednesday’s victory at the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja. The court reinstated Shaibu as the deputy governor.
But when their convoys drove through the dualised Benin Airport Road, thugs in a Toyota Sienna shot at them, leaving Onu dead.
Okpebholo’s legislative aide in charge of media and communication, Godswill Inegbe, said three riot policemen were seriously wounded.
Inegbe, who confirmed Okpebholo was admitted. alleged that thugs were led by an APC member who recently defected to another party.
He said: “This (yesterday) afternoon, the motorcade of Senator Monday Okpebholo, the APC’s governorship candidate in Edo State was attacked by thugs.
“During the unprovoked attack, three mobile policemen attached to the security detail of Senator Okpebholo were injured , while one of the policemen has been declared dead
“Senator Okpebholo is at this moment admitted in an undisclosed hospital in Benin City, receiving medical attention, and other members of his entourage, who were victims of the attack. They are in various hospitals in Benin City.”
APC members in the state condemned the incident and called for the arrest and prosecution of the thugs and their leader.
