Police arrest Edo LG boss over alleged political violence

The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Nemi Edwin-Iwo, on Tuesday, confirmed the arrest of the Esan West Local Government Council Chairman, Collins Aigbogun.

Recall that the All Progressives Congress in Edo had petitioned the Inspector General of Police over political violence that erupted in the Illeh community, Esan West Local Area, as the APC fingered the Council boss to be responded to for the alleged violence.

Addressing journalists at the police headquarters in Benin, CP Edwin-Iwo said that the council boss was brought to the Criminal Investigation Department of the command in Benin by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area upon police invitation.

He said that Collin Aigbogun, upon arriving at the CID office, was discovered to have been wanted by the police earlier on other alleged criminal charges.

He said, “Yes, he was invited. He reported himself to the police, and we later discovered that he had other criminal charges against him.

“What happened was that he brutalised someone in the course of altercations between himself and other party members.

“He was invited, and the DPO in the area brought him to the State CID, where it was discovered that he had other charges against him.

“Our men from FID came and said that the man had earlier been wanted, and there was now a need for them to take him along so that they could investigate his matter.

“That was how he was moved to Abuja. The whole thing is being investigated and I hope that at the end of the day, if there is anything against him, he will be brought back to Benin”, he disclosed

Speaking on the Command’s readiness for the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State, the CP warned non-state actors to stay away from the poll, saying they have no business with the election.

He revealed that the police have commenced illegal arms mopping across the 18 local government council areas in the state in order to have a hitch-free election.

He added, “We are mopping up harms across the local government council areas in the state ahead of the election. We request the public to inform us where we can mop up illegal arms.

“We are going to create an environment where we will have a free and fair election and enable the environment so that anybody can walk freely without any molestations or intimidations.

“I want to re-emphasise, as INEC has done earlier, that nonstate actors are not supposed to carry arms and are not part of the election at all.

“So, all that we are doing now before the election is to make sure that we clear all illegal arms as much as we can. The operation is ongoing and I have operatives virtually in all the local government areas now,” he stated.