Edo guber: Protest rocks Okumagbe’s Palace over arrests of PDP leaders

Angry protesters were said to have besieged the Palace of the Okumagbe of Uwanno Kingdom in Estako Local Government Area of Edo State, demanding the immediate release of PDP leaders who were arrested across the council area today.

Our correspondent was reliably informed that some angry youths and women stormed the Okumagbe’s palace with various placards chanting freedom songs, reports Vanguard.

They also threatened to take laws into their hands if the arrested PDP leaders were not released just as they issued a 12-hour ultimatum to the Nigeria Police Force to release their leaders.

The protesters, however, warned against further arrests vowing to defend their community leaders from harassment.

It’s an unprovoked anger—Attoh, Etsako LG boss

The Chairman of Etsako Local Government Area, Princess Benedicta Attoh, while reacting to the incident, called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Defence Staff and other security agencies to abide by their promises of remaining neutral in the Edo Governorship election.

She expressed worry over the arrest of PDP leaders across the council area.

Attoh, in a statement by her Chief Press Secretary, Benjamin Atu, sought to know if the 35,000 Policemen deployed to ensure a peaceful election in the state were sent to deliver victory for APC by arresting PDP members from voting in the Governorship election.

She lamented that the early morning raid by the Police had left the youths protesting at the Okumagbe palace.

She also faulted what she described as the indiscriminate molestation by the Police.

She said: “If the Nigeria Police and other security agencies were here to make peace, why are they making all community boil by arresting people for not supporting APC? The police must now allow itself to be used. This unprovoked anger is avoidable as the actions of the police could lead to the breakdown of law and order across the state.

“We can’t continue to calm the youths when the Police are making their community hostile.

“For a peaceful election, I, therefore, call on the Inspector General of Police, the Chief of Defence Staff, DSS and others to intervene and ensure the immediate release of Chief Abdullahi Isah, aka Chief O3, who was arrested in Okpella, Ward 3 Councillor, Monday Uloko was also detained in Agenebode.

“We also got information that the palace secretary of Okumagbe, Uwanno Kingdom and Supervisor in the Council, Mr Peter Akhagbosu and Samali James have been arrested. Other personal aides of a PDP chieftain, Mr D. D. Ilugbekhai, we gathered, have been threatened.

“The collective will of the masses can’t be subdued by unwarranted arrest as the continuous arrest will affect the turnout of the election.”