19th July, 2024
By Jethro Ibileke
The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Funsho Adegboye, has described violent crisis that resulted in the death of Inspector Akor Onu in the violent mayhem of Thursday, as unfortunate, but avoidable.
Adegboye who addressed the press on what led to the melee, said when he heard of the crowd at the airport, he went there with his men to maintain law and order.
He also confirmed that he was at the airport and he met with the reinstated deputy governor, Philip Shaibu.
According to him, “I had information that some people gathered at the airport, and I went in there because our own is to maintain law and order. We were there, myself and my men.
“It was after the men left the airport that we heard the shootings which led to the death of the Inspector. We are investigating it, we are having some names, very soon, they will be in our net and we will carry our very thorough investigation.”
CP Adegboye denied having a fore knowledge of a planned attack, saying that “nobody gave me any intelligence about the people.”
He further stated: “I was at the airport with my men to see things for myself and to maintain law and order. They were dancing and jubilating and there was no single incident at the airport until after the airport premises.
Commenting on enforcement of Shaibu’s court judgement, Adegboye said:
“The issue of court judgement, counter judgement, we should not be dragged into this. It is not for us to go and execute, unless we’ve been so directed and our own is just to ensure the safety of the bailiff who is specifically in charge of enforcing the judgement.”
When asked to confirm a statement by the State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, that he was at the airport where he briefed Shaibu on the staying execution of his judgement, the CP did not give a direct answer.
“I was at the airport, we discussed [with Shaibu], and what we discussed should not be a subject for debate now,” he said.
