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From Tony Osauzo, Benin and Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Zone 5 Headquarters of the Nigeria Police in Benin City late yesterday evening confirm the arrest of the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr. Julius Abure, the Edo State Chairman of the party, Mr. Kelly Ogbaloi, Ken Omusi, Simeon Obehi, and two others over alleged conspiracy, brutal assault, attempted murder, armed robbery, grievous harm and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
Spokesman of Zone, Tijani Momoh, in a statement, said the arrest is as a result of a strong worded petition addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, which was endorsed by the office of the IGP 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 has directed speedy investigation into the matter, and anyone found culpable will be arraigned in Court.”
In a statement, LP spokesperson, Obiora Ifoh, said a police source had informed the party that the arrest was related to a letter of protest sent by one of the party’s expelled members who was loyal to the Apapa dissident camp.
Ifoh said the source also revealed that the arrest had something to do with the current party primary and the potential candidate, whom the state government is adamantly against.
The insider reportedly further revealed that the arrest was made in an attempt to sabotage the primary and potentially prevent it from running for governor.
“Heavy crowd of protesters, yesterday, besieged the Zone 5 Headquarters of the Police Command in Benin over Abure’s arrest.
“Also arrested was the state chairman of the party, Kelly Ogbaloi.
“The Labour Party, on Tuesday, had a very successful delegate election in Benin ahead of the party primary scheduled for Friday. The party chairman, only this morning, along with party governorship aspirants also kept a scheduled security briefing with the Department of the State Security (DSS).
Abure was, however, arrested after the meeting by a combined team of DSS and police officers. Abure, Ogbaloi and their aides were also manhandled.
“Effort by some party leaders to have access to the Zone 5 headquarters were turned down due to the huge crowd of party supporters who were expressing their displeasure over Abure’s arrest.
“However, a police source informed the party officials and other governorship aspirants at the gate of the police headquarters that the arrest was in connection to a protest letter by one of the expelled members of the party loyal to Apapa dissident camp.”
“The source also confirmed the arrest was not unconnected to the ongoing party primary and the possible candidate that will emerge which the state government is vehemently opposed to.
“He said the arrest was to frustrate the primary process and possibly interrupt the party’s participation in the governorship election.
“Deputy National Chairman of the party, Ayo Olurunfemi, in a video post said no form of intimidation from the highest quarters can stop the party from concluding the process leading to the emergence of the Labour Party government in the state,” he said in the statement.
