The Department of State Services has arrested a man believed to be connected to the recent attack on former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and members of the African Democratic Congress in Benin City, Edo State.
The arrest followed investigations into the violent incident that occurred on February 24, shortly after Obi and several ADC chieftains concluded a political engagement at the party’s secretariat in the state capital.
According to security sources, the suspect, identified as Udeme Monday Stephen, was alleged to have made threatening posts on social media shortly after the attack, warning of further assaults on opposition figures. The posts, which quickly gained public attention, intensified calls for immediate security intervention.
The attack reportedly took place after party leaders returned from a meeting where a former governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Olumide Akpata, was formally received into the ADC. Armed assailants allegedly fired gunshots, creating panic and forcing party members to flee the scene.
Reacting to the incident, Peter Obi described the attack as a dangerous sign for Nigeria’s democracy, warning that political violence and intimidation must not be allowed to thrive in the country.
“We will make a formal complaint, and I assure you that this cannot continue. Terrorism and intimidation have no place in a democratic society, and citizens must not be subjected to fear,” Obi stated.
The leadership of the ADC also condemned the incident, insisting that violence and threats would not deter the party from its democratic pursuits. The party’s spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the attack as an assault on freedom and a stain on the nation’s political culture.
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, equally condemned the violence, describing it as an internal political dispute that escalated beyond acceptable limits. He expressed sympathy for those affected and warned against the importation of thugs into the state under the cover of politics.
“As a peace-loving state, we will not tolerate violence, intimidation, or the activities of criminal elements disguised as political actors,” the governor said.
Security agencies have assured the public that investigations are ongoing and that all individuals involved in the attack will be brought to justice to prevent a recurrence.
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