19th July, 2024
By Jethro Ibileke
The Edo Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called for the sack of the State Commissioner of Police, CP Funsho Adegboye, over the attack on its candidate by suspected gunmen at the Benin Airport exit gate in the state.
Addressing journalists in Benin on Friday, the Media Consultant to the APC Campaign Council, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said the call became necessary because the CP was complicit in the attack on its candidate, Sen. Okpeebholo and the reinstated deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu.
He alleged that those who carried out the attack were acting on the instructions of Governor Godwin Obaseki, even as the CP provided cover for the attackers.
According to him, “While the shootings were going on the State Commissioner of Police was on ground at the Benin Airport, he left through the entry gate instead of exit gate where the attack took place. He did nothing to repel the vicious attack which led to death of one of his officers.
“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.”
Afegbua further alleged that the Commissioner of Police and the State Command willfully undermined the responsibility placed on him by the law for protection of lives and property within his jurisdiction as he has become the puppet of the Governor from whom he takes politically minded instructions.
He said the party is calling for the police commissioner sack because if even if he is redeployed, he would still endanger the life of the citizen
“As at today, Edo State is in a State of unassumable 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”
Responding, CP Adegboye who exonerated himself of any wrongdoing during the mayhem, refuted claims that intelligence was shared with him ahead of the attack.
He said there was no any 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
According to him, investigation was ongoing and those whose names had been mentioned in the incident would be arrested soon.
