Benin Airport mayhem: Edo govt calls for arrest, prosecution of Shaibu

By Jethro Ibileke

The Edo State government has called for the arrest and prosecution of the reinstated deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, over his alleged involvement in the mayhem that claimed life of a police inspector at the Benin airport on Thursday after his return from Abuja.

Shaibu returned in a chartered flight to Benin following a court judgment reinstating him as the deputy governor of the state.

He was in company of the governorship candidate of APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo and others.

He was met at the airport by a large crowd of his supporters.

It was gathered that some yet-to-be-named gunmen opened fire on the jubilating crowd along Airport Road, killing a police orderly of Senator Okpebholo, Inspector Akor Onu in the process.

The State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, who address the press, blamed Philip Shaibu and the APC for the mayhem.

He called on the federal government to set up a high-powered investigative panel to unravel the cause of the shooting and the death of the police officer.

According to him, the intention of the opposition party was to draw the attention of the federal government and create the impression of anarchy and call for state of emergency.

Nehikhare further alleged that “Shaibu got judgment and flew into Benin with his friends and before entring Benin, he mobilised armed thugs to wait for him at the Benin 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.

“The CP should be arresting him because, as it stands today, he is not 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 said.

According to the Commissioner, the state government would no longer fold its arms and watched thugs take cause mayhem the state.

He stated that efforts were 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.