Labour Party Chairman Abure, four others arrested for attempted murder
The National Chairman of the Labour Party Julius Abure has been arrested by the police in Benin City Edo State over allegations of attempted murder.
The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed his arrest along with four others on Wednesday following a petition by the party’s former Youth Leader, Eragbe Anselm Aphimia.
Abure’s arrest comes just a day before the party’s primary election in Edo State.
Tijani Momoh, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force, Zone 5, covering Edo and Delta states, said Abure and the four were arrested for attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms, and other related offences.
Momoh while speaking to journalists Wednesday said the “arrest of the factional chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure and four others” 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 that the suspects were arrested for attempted murder and that video clips and recordings show how the petitioner was being “assaulted, being beaten when he came home last year to conduct ward matters”.
“It is a case of attempted murder, conspiracy, illegal possession of arms and other related offences,” he said.
Anselm Aphimia’s petition addressed to the Edo State Police Commissioner of Police, alleged that a “heinous act of violence” was perpetrated against him on December 29, 2023.
He said, “I 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.
“On 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.
“Our 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.
“On 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 ‘stakeholders’.
“She 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.
“Instead, we were violently attacked just outside the hotel gates by a waiting mob.”
Police say that investigation into the matter was still ongoing.
Already a viral video showing how Abure was arrested by some armed police officers emerged on the internet Wednesday afternoon.
