Julius Abure
By Our Reporter
The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of the Labour Partyās National Chairman, Julius Abure, along with four others.
Tijani Momoh, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force, Zone 5, covering Edo and Delta states, said Abure and the others were arrested for attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms, and other related offences.
The Labour Party chairman was arrested on Wednesday in Benin City, Edo State.
A viral video showing how Abure was arrested by some armed police officers emerged on social media Wednesday afternoon.
Gathered that the police acted on a petition written by the LP Youth Leader, Comrade Eragbe Anselm Aphimia accusing Abure of committing violent acts against him.
While speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Momoh said the āarrest of the factional chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure and four othersā has to do with a āwritten petition that was endorsed by the AIG Zone 5 from the office of the Inspector General of Policeā.
He said that the suspects were arrested for attempted murder and that video clips and recordings show how the petitioner was being āassaulted, being beaten when he came home last year to conduct ward mattersā.
āIt is a case of attempted murder, conspiracy, illegal possession of arms and other related offences,ā he said.
According to Momoh, Abure and the other suspects were also in āpossession of firearms; a shotgun and three rounds of ammunitionā.
He added that the investigation into the matter was still ongoing.
Anselm Aphimiaās petition addressed to the Edo State Police Commissioner of Police, alleged that a āheinous act of violenceā was perpetrated against him on December 29, 2023.
He said, āI am a member and National Youth Leader of the Labour Party (LP) in Nigeria, and the events I am about to recount are of utmost importance for justice and the safety of individuals involved in political activities.
āOn December 28, 2023, I flew into Benin City Airport around 2 p.m. as part of an official 5-member delegation authorised by the Acting National Chairman of the Labour Party, Alhaji Lamidi Basiru Apapa.
āOur mission was to organise Ward, LGA, and State Congresses in Edo State, as well as supervise the sale of nomination forms for various posts, as mandated by INEC guidelines, within the stipulated time frames.
āOn arrival at the Benin Airport, I was received by one Mrs Mary Okheime Newberry, who falsely claimed to be providing transportation and accommodation on behalf of unnamed āstakeholdersā.
āShe proceeded to lodge us at the Smart Homes Hotel, unknown to us that she was plotting a sinister and gruesome ambush. The next morning, a man named Austin Emeka came to pick me and my colleague, Mr Patrick Anethua, up from the hotel lobby, pretending to take us to a meeting venue.
āInstead, we were violently attacked just outside the hotel gates by a waiting mob.ā