By DADA AYOKHAI
The Network of Civil Societies Organizations of Nigeria (NOCSON) has tasked the police and other security agencies in Edo State to strive to ensure a conducive electoral atmosphere ahead of the September 21, 2024 governorship election in the State.
The group led by Comrade Emmanuel Ogbidi also charged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to conduct the Edo poll in a most transparent and credible manner such that would discourage any of the participating political parties from challenging the outcome of the election in court.
Ogbidi who expressed displeasure over the way the security issues thrown up in the aftermaths of the Airport Road Benin City shooting by some known political thugs had been managed by the police, called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of all those involved in the political imbroglio that led to the killing of a gallant police officer Inspector Onu Akor.
According to him, “it has become sacrosant that we address the press today following the critical observations of the Civil Societies’ Community in Edo State as it concerns recent developments in the buildup to the Edo 2024 gubernatorial election in September this year. Some of these unhealthy developments are becoming very worrisome to the good people of Edo State and well meaning Nigerians
“It is sad that 26 days after the uncivilized display of the political class and some thugs who brandished several guns and light weapons demonstrating in an action that could best be described as a mini civil war, the Nigeria Police Force is yet to arrest those who were obviously obvious in various camera lenses that captured the incident that have already gone viral in the social media”.
He alleged that rather than arrest the culprits and bring them to justice, the police have decided to turn a blind eye to taking the criminals out of the street with a view to preventing a recurrence in the buildup to the September polls.
The police’s failure to act according to Comrade Ogbidi is suggestive that they have taken side with the political party at the centre thereby promoting impunity, selective arrest and prosecution of those alleged to have perpetrated the crimes.
He used the occasion of the press briefing to call on the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies of the impending risk involved if nothing is done urgently to arrest the ugly situation.
He said the state will be sitting on a keg of gun powder if we continue to allow those none state actors, political thugs whose faces were visible at the Airport Road shooting incident to continue to roam the streets of Benin this election season as it could have dire consequences for the security of the citizens..
The group therefore called on the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun and heads of other security agencies to arrest and prosecute all those involved in the crime irrespective of their political affiliations.
