Late Wednesday evening, the Nigeria Police Force’s Zone 5 Headquarters in Benin City confirmed the arrest of the Labour Party’s National Chairman, Mr Julius Abure, the party’s Edo State Chairman, Mr Kelly Ogbaloi, Ken Omusi, Simeon Obehi, and two others for alleged conspiracy, brutal assault, attempted murder, armed robbery, grievous harm, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
In a statement, Zone spokeswoman Tijani Momoh said the arrest was the consequence of a strongly written petition made to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, which was endorsed by the IGP’s office to the AIG Zone 5 Benin for discreet investigation.
It explained that detectives of the Zone upon surveillance and with warrants of arrest, apprehended the National Chairman, Julius Abure, Kelly Ogbaloi and others with a Pump action Gun and three rounds of live ammunition.
“It is expedient to state that contrary to false narratives on the social media, the National Chairman was never assaulted by the Police detectives, in the process of effecting the arrest, some persons with the Chairman violently obstructed the detectives from carrying out a lawful arrest. They made the Chairman seat on the ground so as to get sympathy from members of the public.
“The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5 Headquarters, Benin City, comprising Delta and Edo State Police Commands, AIG Arungwa Nwazue, psc (+), mni, has directed speedy investigation into the matter, and anyone found culpable will be arraigned in Court,” he said.