Police Arrest Council Chairman In Edo Over Alleged Political Crisis

The Police in Edo State has arrested Esan West Local Government Council Chairman, Collins Aigbogun, following a petition written by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo to the Inspector General of Police indicting him over the political violence that erupted in Illeh community.
The Commissioner of Police, Nemi Edwin-Iwo, who confirmed the arrest to journalists at the police headquarters in Benin, said Aigbogun was brought to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the command in Benin by the Divisional Police Officer on invitation.
He said that on arriving at the office of the CID it was discovered that the council chairman had earlier been declared wanted by the police over other alleged criminal charges.
He said, “He was invited and he reported himself to the police and we later discovered that he has other criminal charges against him. “He had brutalised 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 had 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
On the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State, the Commissioner warned non-state actors to steer clear of the poll.
He stated that the police had commenced illegal arms mopping across the 18 local government council areas in the state as part of measures to make the election hitch-free.
“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 intimidation.
“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,” he stated.