Edo APC Blames Police for Security Failure in Okpebholo and Shaibu Assassination Attempt, Urges President Tinubu to Launch Investigation

The Governorship Campaign Council of the All-Progressives Congress, APC in Edo State, has blamed the State Police Command for the security breach at the exit gate of the Benin Airport on Thursday in which its candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo escaped assassination by a hair’s breadth. It however regretted the killing of a serving police inspector, one of Okpebholo’s security details identified as Onu Ako, who was murdered in cold blood while carrying out his official assignment.
In a statement on Friday, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, Director of Publicity of the Council, described as the “greatest security breach and failure”, the vantage point the assassins, who were in a marked Sienna Bus opposite the exit gate managed to acquire, “especially as the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, and other top officers were at the airport to ensure peace”.

The APC called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, and the State Security Service, to probe the incident and bring the culprits to book, as well as rein in “state-sponsored criminals who have brazenly made the political landscape unsafe”.
Recall that Okpebholo, who had arrived the Benin Airport from Abuja in a chartered aircraft with the embattled deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu after his reinstatement by the Federal High Court, Abuja presided over by Justice James Kolawole Omotosho, were welcome with a hail of bullets by gunmen who had strategically positioned their Sienna vehicle directly opposite the exit gate of the airport as their motorcade made their way into the Oko-Ogba expressway by the Church of God Mission, Miracle Centre. The gun attack claimed the life of Inspector Ak, while several others were injured.
The full statement read: “Yesterday, July 18, 2024, our candidate for the September 21, 2024, Governorship Election in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, escaped an assassination attempt when he arrived in the Benin Airport to continue his campaigns. Sadly, the assassins succeeded in gruesomely taking the life of Police Inspector Onu Ako, one of his security details.
“Okpebholo’s peaceful procession from airport to the APC Secretariat would have been conducted peacefully without any problem if the gunmen had not decided to ambush the candidate and his supporters at the Benin Airport exit. Let it be known that our candidate did not commit any crime by passing through the airport gate after arriving from Abuja. Likewise, members of the APC who received him on his arrival.
“Those that committed the murder of Inspector Ako and attempted to assassinate Senator Okpebholo are the hired criminals who were identified by security agents present at the scene as representatives of the opposition party. This unprovoked horrific act of political violence against a peaceful Nigerian Senator should have no place in Edo State. It should be unanimously and forcefully condemned by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the good people of Edo State.
“After a careful reflection, the APC regrets the killing of a serving police officer, who was murdered in cold blood while carrying out his official assignment. The party is also appalled by the pains caused by injuries sustained by hundreds of our members during the unexpected attack. We are grateful that Senator Okpebholo appears to be fine after a despicable attack on a peaceful motorcade.
The attempted assassination of Senator Okpebholo, the APC gubernatorial candidate represents a glaring failure by the Police, which left a serving senator exposed to gunfire in a breach of security that caused fatality.
We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, and the State Security Service, to probe this assassination attempt and bring the culprits to book and also rein in state-sponsored criminals who have brazenly made the political landscape unsafe.
Anything short of this, is capable of encouraging self-help in the state, especially as we enter the crucial campaign season.
The vantage point the assassins, who were in a marked Sienna Bus opposite the exit gate managed to acquire, is the greatest security breach and failure, especially as the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, and other top officers were at the airport to ensure peace.
Let it be known that no amount of violent desperation will prevent the APC from providing leadership for the determined concerted patriotic forces working to take back Edo State and reset it to path of peace and prosperity.