The Edo State’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Nigeria Police Force to stop the continuous harassment of chieftains and members of the party under the guise of the investigation of the Thursday, July 18, 2024 breakdown of law and order and violence on Airport Road in Benin City, which was orchestrated by thugs linked to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State to disrupt peace and order in the State.
The party also urged the Police to go after the gun-wielding touts and suspected culprits, whose faces were clearly displayed in a newspaper publication and video clips bearing firearms and causing mayhem on the Airport Road axis of the Benin metropolis in the guise of welcoming the impeached Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu and the Governorship candidate of the APC, Monday Okphebholo.
In a statement by the Deputy Director General for Media and Publicity of the PDP Campaign Council for the 2024 Edo Governorship Election, Rev. Olu Martins, the party noted that rather than arrest the suspected culprits, the police is hounding and harassing Edo PDP leaders and members, even though there is no evidence to show that they were at the scene of the incident.
According to him, “For the past couple of weeks, some members of the tactical unit of the Nigeria Police Force have been moving around the State in three Hummer buses and a Hilux van, threatening and harassing Edo PDP chieftains while leaving those who were photographed in that mayhem walk free.
“This is totally condemnable and unacceptable and reinforces the concerns of many political actors in the State that the police have become an extension of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The situation has further heightened tensions and created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, which poses a serious threat to the forthcoming September 21 governorship election in the State.”
Olu Martins further stated, “We would like to stress that the role of the police is to impartially uphold the law, and ensure the safety and security of all citizens, regardless of their political affiliations. It is deeply troubling that those who are supposed to ensure public peace and that everyone has equal and unhindered access to justice have become tools in the hands of desperate politicians who are hell-bent on stirring crisis and chaos in the State in pursuit of their selfish
“We call upon the Inspector General of Police to call his men to order to prevent a descent to anarchy in the State. They must read the mood of the nation and know that there is anger and angst in the land and the poor handling of any matter, especially in the buildup to the forthcoming Edo Governorship Election slated for September 21, may just be the ignition for a conflagration that may well be avoided.”
While urging the Police to ensure that those responsible for the July 18 violence and breakdown of law in the State are held accountable, the PDP charged the Police not to allow themselves to be used as tools to unjustly hound and harass political opponents.
