Assassination attempt on Edo state governor

The deputy governor of Edo state, Dr. Pius Odubu, escaped death by the whiskers when gunmen opened fire on him and his entourage in Auchi, Etsako West local government area of the state.

The Nation reports that the incident happened on Saturday, April 30, as the deputy governor was receiving a delegation at the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Auchi.

Five persons were said to have been critically injured
The gunmen reportedly invaded the secretariat and opened fire on the deputy governor and others at the meeting, a few minutes after Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Odubu left a party organised by Damian Lawani, representative of the Estako central constituency in the House of Assembly.

A policeman, an operative of the Department of State Security and three other persons including the guard commander of the deputy governor’s police team who covered his boss during the invasion were critically injured during the attack and were rushed to the hospital.

Six delegates and three security details attached to Odubu are said to be in critical conditions and are receiving treatment at Faith Medical Centre in Auchi.

A source who spoke to The Punch said Odubu was not injured in the attack.

“We ran for our dear lives. They injured a policeman, an SSS operative and three civilians and destroyed canopies. We learnt that they were paid N1m to carry out the attack,” the source said.

Odubu had formally declared his intention to contest the September 10 gubernatorial election in the state under the All Progressives Congress last Wednesday, April 27.

People speculated that this did not go down well with Governor Oshiomhole.

It was alleged that Dr. Odubu plotted with some native doctors to kill Oshiomhole but he denied the report saying, it was the handiwork of mischief makers and blackmailers who are bent on destroying his cordial relationship with his boss.

Source : naij.com