Gunmen kill police officer during Shaibu’s reception, Edo govt blames ex-Deputy Governor

On Thursday, gunmen fatally shot Inspector Onu Ako, a police officer, during a reception for Philip Shaibu, the reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State. Inspector Ako was assigned to Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state.

This incident followed a ruling by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja. On Wednesday, the court nullified Shaibu’s impeachment by the state House of Assembly and ordered Governor Obaseki and the Assembly to allow Shaibu to perform his duties. Additionally, the judge instructed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to reinstate Shaibu’s security details. The Assembly has since announced an appeal against this judgement.

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It remains unclear if Okpebholo sustained injuries in the attack. Chidi Nwabuzor, the spokesman for the state police command, confirmed the attack, stating that it occurred on Airport Road shortly after the entourage departed from Benin Airport.

In response to the incident, the Edo State government issued a statement through Chris Nehikhare, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, accusing Shaibu of orchestrating violence with his thugs against innocent citizens. Godswill Inegbe, the spokesman for the APC candidate, also confirmed the attack, noting that Okpebholo and other members of the entourage were admitted to an undisclosed hospital in Benin City.

“During the unprovoked attack, three mobile policemen attached to Senator Okpebholo’s security detail were injured with bullet wounds, and one of the policemen is feared dead,” Inegbe added.