Gunmen on Thursday in Benin attacked a convoy having APC’s Edo Governorship Candidate, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, and the reinstated Deputy Governor, Mr Philip Shaibu, killing one of the security details.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred along Airport Road, when Okpebholo and several others arrived in the city from Abuja aboard a chartered flight.
A police officer was said to have been shot dead while three others were wounded.
It was not immediately known if Okpebholo was wounded, but he was said to be hospitalised in an undisclosed hospital in Benin City.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had on Wednesday voided the impeachment of Shaibu as the state deputy governor by the state House of Assembly.
The House of Assembly has, however, in a statement, said it had appealed the judgement.
The gunmen, in a vehicle at the exit gate of the airport, were said to have opened fire on the convoy, leading to an exchange with the securitymen attached to the APC candidate and Shaibu.
The incident forced shops and offices to hurriedly shut down, while majority of motorists abandoned their vehicles and scampered to safety.
When contacted, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, the Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in Edo, said the incident was being investigated.
“It is premature for the police to confirm at this time until the investigation is concluded,” he said.
Meanwhile, a check showed that security had been strengthened at the premises of the state Deputy Governor, Godwins Omobayo, located at Osadebey Avenue, to forestall any attack on him.
However, in a statement on Thursday, the Edo Government, said it had observed the level of wanton destruction perpetrated by thugs working in connivance with the former deputy governor.
Chris Nehikhare, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, alleged that Shaibu-led thugs have unleashed mayhem on innocent citizens in the guise of enforcing the judgment reinstating him to office.
“We want to reiterate that Shaibu will face the consequences of violence he has resorted to in pursuit of his aim to return to the Government House even when he is aware that a stay of execution of the judgment has been filed,” he said.
The Commissioner enjoined the general public to be calm and go about their lawful businesses as government embarks on restoring peace to the ancient city.
However, efforts to get the reaction of Shaibu proved abortive.
But, in a statement, Mr Godswill Inegbe, an aide to Okpebholo, said his principal was attacked by some gunmen.
“During the unprovoked attack, three mobile policemen attached to the security detail of Sen. Okpebholo were injured and had bullet wounds, while one of the policemen has been feared dead,” Inegbe said.
According to him, Okpebholo was currently on admission in an undisclosed hospital in Benin for medical attention with other members of the entourage.