The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, CP, Nemi Edwin-Iwo, has confirmed the arrest of the Esan West Local Government Council Chairman, Collins Aigbogun over alleged political violence.

Addressing journalists at the police headquarters in Benin, CP Edwin-Iwo, said that the council boss was brought to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) 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 office of the CID was discovered to have earlier been wanted by the police over other alleged criminal charges.

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

“Basically, what happened was that he brutalises somebody 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 earlier before now, he had other charges against him.

“Our men from FID came and said that the man has earlier been wanted and there was now need for them to take him along so that they can 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 September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State, the commissioner warned non state actors to stay clear of the poll, saying that 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.

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

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

“I want to reemphasize again as INEC has done earlier that non state 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.

It will be recalled that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo had petitioned the Inspector General of Police over political violence that erupted in Illeh community, Esan West Local area as the APC fingered the Council boss to be responded to for the alleged violence. (Courtesy, excluding headline, Nigerian Tribune)

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