Police Invite Suspected Actors In Shootings, Apologise To Okpebholo

The Edo State Police Command has invited several individuals for questioning in connection to the shooting that occurred last Thursday on Airport Road, Benin City, leading to the death of the orderly to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo.

The incident happened as the reinstated Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, and Senator Okpebholo were entering Benin City from the airport.

The police also issued an apology to Senator Okpebholo for previously referring to him merely as “one Monday,” a term which they acknowledged as disrespectful to his status.

The shooting incident has ignited a series of accusations and counter-accusations among the state government, the APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The state government and PDP have accused Shaibu of mobilizing armed thugs to receive him at the airport, further calling for an investigation into his actions and those of his associates.

Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, stated that some suspects linked to the shooting have already relocated.

He mentioned that letters of invitation had been sent to their relatives, and should these suspects fail to honour the invitations, they may be declared wanted in accordance with the law.

The police’s proactive steps aim to address the heightened tensions and maintain order as the political landscape in Edo State becomes increasingly volatile.

He said, “Investigations are in top gear to unravel the mysteries surrounding the circumstances that led to the killing of a gallant Inspector of Police and the attempted murder of the distinguished senator, Sen. Monday Okpebolo. We are not leaving any stone unturned, they have abandoned their known addresses that is why we took another step of dropping the invitation to their relatives, meanwhile if they fail to honour this, the appropriate legal procedures will be followed and this may include declaring them wanted.”

On Okpebholo, Adgboye said, “We respect people no matter the class the person belong, the senator was inadvertently referred to as one Monday, it is not in our character, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun was disturbed, I am disturbed, other senior officers are disturbed about this and I want to use this opportunity to correct that almost unpardonable error.

“The senator is a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen Monday Okpbholo, the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming September 21 governorship election we hold him in high esteem, he is a distinguished and serving senator so the error is highly regretted.”