Edo Election: Two Thugs Arrested, Firearms Confiscated

The Nigerian Police said it nabbed two political thugs and recovered three cut-to-size locally fabricated pistols and one locally made handgun, hours before the opening of the highly contested governorship election in Edo State.

ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, disclosed this on Saturday morning.

“The Nigeria Police Force has made a significant breakthrough in its efforts to curb electoral violence in Edo State with the arrest of two political thugs, namely: Edwin Obanor, a 43-year-old, and Audu Tajudeen, a 41-year-old Peoples Democratic Party member from Ugbogbo Quarters, Igara Akoko, Edo,” Adejobi said in a press statement.

“Acting on a tip-off that some individuals had been armed to cause mayhem and instability during the election on Saturday, the police operatives swooped into action and apprehended Obanor, a leader of an armed group, at Oredo Ward 4 at about 9 p.m., and Audu Tajudeen at Igara Akoko, Edo, on the eve of the election.”

He added, “Upon searching the bags in their possession, three cut-to-size locally fabricated pistols were discovered on Obanor, while one locally made gun was recovered from Tajudeen.”

There has been growing tension in Edo as the state gears up for the off-season governorship election scheduled for today, Saturday, September 21.

Godwin Obaseki, the executive governor of the state, in a war of words with Senator Adams Oshiomhole, described the election as a “do or die; if they do, we will die” affair.

The three major candidates—Asue Ighodalo, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC); and Olumide Akpata, flagbearer of the Labour Party (LP)—who are vying to succeed Obaseki, have also been involved in heated exchanges that have further heightened the tension in the state.

On September 12, during the signing of the Peace Accord ahead of Saturday’s election, the ruling party, PDP, declined to consent to the accord.

Earlier, before the signing, Obaseki claimed the state had lost confidence in the security operatives to maintain neutrality and ensure protection for all.

“Until everybody (party members) arrested in Edo is released or brought back to Edo to be tried for whatever offenses you claim they have committed, we have no confidence that the police are going to protect us in this election,” Governor Obaseki said.

Also Read: Edo Gov Election: Police Bars State-run Security Units From Polls

Emmanuel Odigie, a PDP chieftain in Edo State, claimed that the reason for the refusal to sign was the deployment of special forces to the state.

“The PDP has made demands; they never said they wouldn’t sign. All they want is for the special forces to be withdrawn from Edo. We already have a very effective state police command, so why bring in these special forces to Edo to harass people?” Odigie said.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Nigerian police assured citizens that they would work to prevent violence during the election.

“No form of lawlessness from any person or group of persons before, during, or after the election will be tolerated,” Commissioner of Police Nemi Iwo said.

“Anybody or group of persons planning to foment trouble will be met with stiff resistance by men of the Edo State Police Command,” he added.