Benin Airport Attack: PDP Accuses Police Of Selective Justice, Says 22 Party Members Under Surveillance

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the State Command of the Nigeria Police Force of practicing selective justice, alleging that around 22 party members and leaders are targeted for arrest in connection with the Benin airport attack.

Daily Post reports that the attack occurred on July 18, 2024, when the reinstated deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu and the APC governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo arrived at the airport from Abuja.

The incident resulted to the death of Inspector Akor Onu, an orderly to the APC governorship candidate, while several persons sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries.

Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday, EDp State PDP chairman, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, alleged that 22 members and leaders of the party are currently under surveillance in connection with a petition written by the APC to the police.

Aziegbemi alleged that a tactical team of policemen were deployed from Abuja to arrest and harass the party’s members over the Benin airport attack.

He accused the police of acting on the APC petition while that of the PDP was not acted on.

In the same vein, he alleged that instances are abound where the police acted in manners that suggested that they are a wing of the APC.

But reacting to the allegations, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, said the case has been transferred to Force Headquarters in Abuja.

“I don’t know what they meant by selective justice. Let’s save your time, the case has been transfered to Abuja. Whatever observations or comments anybody has should be directed to Abuja,” he said.

Aziegbemi, addressing journalists on Sunday, said, “In the build-up to the Edo State Governorship election slated for September 21, it has become necessary to draw the attention of the general public to the trail of actions that pertains to selective justice being witnessed in the operations of the Nigeria Police Force at the State and National levels, in handling matters arising from Edo State.

“We have witnessed different instances in which the Police has acted in manners that suggest that they are a wing of the APC, preferring to rather attend to issues raised by APC and its agents and disregarding complaints by other actors in the polity, which portend an ominous sign as we approach the election in Edo State barely two months away.

“We will like to make reference to certain issues that have led us to this troubling juncture, seeing that the Police are critical stakeholders in ensuring a level playing field for the conduct of the elections.

“Firstly, a few weeks ago, the Deputy Director General, Media and Publicity for the Peoples Democratic Party Election Campaign Council, Reverend Olu Martins was invited and arrested by officers of the Nigeria Police Force based on a petition against him.

“Martins was subsequently arraigned in Court and granted bail after meeting the necessary bail conditions set by the trial Judge. The case was subsequently adjoined.

“Conversely, however, I, as the chairman of the PDP in Edo State wrote a petition over comments by the chairman of the State’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) where he threatened to mobilise and lead youths to stone the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, which is clearly a recipe for violence and chaos in the State, given the sensitivity of the Office of the Governor.

“A video evidence of this threat and an accompanying petition was submitted to the Commissioner of Police in Edo State.

“Surprisingly, no action has been taken on the matter since the petition was submitted, unlike the swift manner in which the Police responded to the petition against the Deputy Director General, Media and Publicity for the PDP Campaign Council.

“On Thursday, July 18, thugs linked to the APC unleashed mayhem on innocent citizens along the Benin Airport Road, in the guise of welcoming the impeached Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu and the Governorship candidate of the APC, Monday Okpebholo.

“The ensuing chaos led to the destruction of property of law abiding members of the public and the unfortunate death of a Police Officer.

“There are video evidence and a newspaper publication of this incident which clearly identified thugs and members of the APC who carried out this wanton destruction of property and breach of public peace.

“A petition, to which all the evidence was attached, was again submitted to the Commissioner of Police in Edo State. Unfortunately and predictably, the Police Commissioner has failed to act on this petition and none of the people have been arrested.

“Rather, they have deployed a tactical team of policemen from Abuja to arrest and harass at least 22 members and leaders of the PDP in Edo State, who are currently under heavy surveillance, in connection with the said public disturbance of Thursday, July 18, even though there is no evidence to show that they were at the scene of the said event.

“The Police, from their actions and inactions in the wake of the developments in Edo State, appear to be acting a script in selective justice, preferring and nitpicking the petitions over which it acts, preferring rather to be better disposed to attention to petitions raised by the APC.

“We are concerned about this pattern of abuse of justice dangerously perpetuated by the Nigeria Police Force, especially in the run-up to the September 21 governorship election.

“It portends a rather disturbing trend that must be checked in the interest of peace in the state,” he said.

Aziegbemi, however, advised the Police to keep to its professional mandate and not act as an instrument in the hands of politicians.

The state PDP chairman also called on the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the actual criminals are brought to book.

He further called on the IGP to safeguard and uphold democracy within the state, noting that the Police must be seen to uphold the Rule of Law.