Benin Forum Appeals to Tinubu Over Slain Police Inspector Amid Edo Crisis
The Benin Cultural Forum has formally appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding the conduct of the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, in connection with the recent attack at Benin Airport on the convoy of All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
The forum argued that Inspector Akor Onu’s death could have been prevented if Adeboye had effectively managed the situation. Inspector Onu was killed last Thursday when suspected political thugs attacked Okpebholo’s convoy as he arrived at the airport with Philip Shaibu.
In a petition signed by its executive director, Banky Aideyan, the forum expressed concerns that the political class might lose trust in the Edo State police under Adeboye if the incident is not thoroughly investigated and accountability measures are enforced. They warned that neglecting this issue could lead to increased lawlessness as the September 21 governorship election approaches.
Condemning the use of Edo vigilante operatives as political thugs, the forum called on President Tinubu to establish an inquiry panel to examine the police’s involvement in the incident. Aideyan highlighted the need for state police as a solution to the nation’s security challenges, suggesting that the recent crisis in Edo could serve as a valuable case study.
Aideyan criticized the Commissioner of Police for not preventing the thugs’ assembly, noting they had gathered for hours before the conflict occurred, implying there was sufficient time to avert the crisis.
The forum also urged the deployment of additional security personnel and a restructuring of the state’s security framework, warning of potential violence in the upcoming governorship election due to the presence of armed thugs and the desperation of some political figures.
Inspector Onu, who was part of Senator Okpebholo’s security detail, was fatally shot by gunmen during the attack on Airport Road in Benin City. Several others sustained gunshot wounds, with suspicions that the attack was targeted at Okpebholo rather than Shaibu.
