- Nabbed For Attempted Murder, Illegal Possession Of Firearms, And Related Offences
As the news of the arrest of the Labour Party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure continues to gather momentum, the Nigeria Police Force has disclosed real reasons for the arrest of the LP National Chairman.
The Matrix had earlier reported that Abure was arrested by policemen in Benin City, the Edo State capital on Wednesday afternoon. Viral videos showed Abure being manhandled by policemen, even as LP supporters fought to prevent his arrest to no avail.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Police Arrest LP National Chairman Abure
However, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force Zone 5, Tijani Momoh, has now disclosed that Abure and four others were arrested over a petition written against them by a petitioner whose name he did not mention.
He said, “I wish to confirm the arrest of the factional chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure and four others.
“It has to do with a written petition that was endorsed by the AIG Zone 5 from the office of the Inspector General of Police.”
He said an allegation of attempted murder was levelled against Abure. “There are video clips, recordings of the petitioner being assaulted, being beaten when he came home last year to conduct ward matters,” Momoh said.
“It is a case of attempted murder, conspiracy, illegal possession of arms and other related offences.
“They were also in possession of firearms; a short gun and three rounds of ammunition.
READ ALSO: Labour Party Suspends National Treasurer, Opara Over Allegation Of N3.5bn Fraud Against Abure
“Investigation is ongoing. They were just arrested today. More details will be provided later,” the police spokesman added.
Meanwhile, LP national spokesman Obiora Ifoh confirmed Abure’s arrest in a statement. He said, “The Labour Party on Tuesday had a very successful delegate election in Benin ahead of the Party Primaries scheduled to hold on Friday.
“The party chairman only this morning along with party governorship aspirants also kept a scheduled security briefing with the Department of the State Security.
“Abure was however arrested after the meeting by a combined team of DSS and Police officers. Abure, Ogbaloi and their aides were also manhandled.”
Ifoh alleged that the arrest of the party’s officials was in connection to a protest letter by one of the expelled members of the party loyal to Lamidi Apapa camp.
He alleged that the arrest was to frustrate the primary process and possibly interrupt the party’s participation in the governorship election.
“The Deputy National Chairman of the Party, Dr. Ayo Olurunfemi in a video post said that no form of intimidation from the highest quarters can stop the party from concluding the process leading to the emergence of the Labour Party government in the state,” the statement concluded.
