Edo 2024: Policeman Killed, Two Others, Several Party Supporters Injured in Attack on APC Candidate

Emerging reports say one policeman, said to be the chief detail to Sen Monday Okpebholo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the Edo 2024 governorship election has been killed in an attack on his campaign motorcade. 

The Thursday afternoon attack, alleged to have been master-minded by members of the state-owned Edo State Security Network, and led by Chief Francis Inegbeneki, also left two other mobile policemen and party supporters injured, some very severely.

The Senator, who was also shot in the well coordinated attack is said to be on admission in an undisclosed hospital in state capital, alongside other members of his entourage, who were also injured in the attack.

Media and Communication aide to the governorship candidate, Godswill Inegbe, who confirmed the unprovoked attack, expressed deep concern over the vicious and violent attack.

In its reaction, the APC, which also condemned the attack in strong terms, has called for an immediate investigation, urging relevant authorities to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

Meanwhile, Chief Inegbeneki, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who is said to have led the attack, has denied any involvement.

He made the denial in a statement on Thursday.

In the said statement, the party chieftain, also from Edo Central Senatorial District as the attacked APC candidate, described his alleged involvement as false and misleading.

Chief Inegbeneki, who described himself as very peace and law abibing, added that he was in his village, far from Benin City, at the time of the said attack.

“It is not true that I led or sponsored thugs who attacked the convoy of Senator Monday Okpebholo, the APC governorship candidate in Benin City. As I speak, I am in my village, and I have been in my village, I was never in Benin when or as at the time the said incident took place.

“It is very wrong for anyone or for any reason to accuse me of leading thugs on that attack. I urge the government, security agencies and the general public to disregard the falsehood," he noted.