Panic In Edo As Armed Men Invade Legislative Quarters

Majority Leader of Edo State House of Assembly, Mr Philip Shaibu, and some All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers and their families escaped death, yesterday, at the legislative quarters, when armed thugs, numbering over 50, invaded the quarters, Vanguard reports.

The thugs, alleged to be loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stormed the quarters at about 6:30am shooting sporadically. It was learnt that they went straight to the quarters of Shaibu and those of other APC lawmakers such as Bright Osayande, Folly Ogedegbe, Sunny Aghedo and rained bullets on their homes and cars.

Some of the lawmakers were said to have helped their families to escape by scaling the perimeter fence before they returned to face the suspected thugs who, reportedly, disappeared before the lawmakers could mobilize. The reign of terror in the state started on Tuesday after a PDP lawmaker, Rasaq Momoh, whose seat was allegedly declared vacant last July by the House, was beaten up by suspected thugs.

He was beaten to a pulp and currently receiving treatment in, hospital. The PDP accused the Majority Leader of masterminding the attack which he denied. However, Shaibu and four others were arraigned before a magistrate court on Friday on the issue but were granted bail.

The Speaker of the House, Uyi Igbe, who was equally invited by the police over the matter, said he was never detained or arrested by the police..

The crisis moved to the Benin Airport, on Friday morning, when President Goodluck Jonathan visited the state for the foundation laying ceremony of the Azura-Edo Power Plant. Some youths, believed to be PDP members, allegtedly attacked some APC leaders including the state Publicity Secretary Godwin Erhahon, among others at the occasion. Soldiers had to be deployed to the place to restore order before the arrival of the President.

Over 50 policemen took over the assembly quarters after yesterday’s attack which the APC described as a declaration of war on the people by the PDP.

Edo State Police Commissioner, Foluso Adebanjo, condemned the legislative quarters attack. He told Sunday Vanguard, yesterday, “What we saw this morning must be condemned. We are investigating the matter and whoever is behind it will be brought to book. Meanwhile, we have stationed policemen to protect the quarters and I tell you we will deal ruthlessly with any bastard involved in such shooting”.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House, Igbe, has petitioned the state Police Commissioner, alleging that the mayhem was masterminded by PDP leaders.