There was a major security shake-up yesterday in Edo State, following alleged assassination attempt on Governor Adams Oshiomhole, by unidentified persons reportedly working in collaboration with some security men attached to his office.
9jabook sources gathered from a security source that the incident which happened on Wednesday, led to the immediate redeployment of some security chiefs attached to the governor and his wife, Clara.
Those relieved of their duties include the Aide-de-camp (ADC) to the governor and his wife; the Chief Security Officer (CSO) and as well as the escort commander.
Also affected in the shake up are the regular uniform policemen and the mobile policemen and other undercover security men posted to the office of the governor.
The development led yesterday to the cancellation of official engagements of the governor outside the state capital, even as new sets of mobile policemen from nearby formations have been drafted to keep surveillance on his official residence.
Meanwhile, Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Dalami Yar’Adua, and other senior police officers in the state held an emergency meeting yesterday with a view to finding a safe way of handling the volatile security matter.
Also, leaders of the Action Congress (AC) in the state were said to have held a secret meeting where they discussed the latest development. Details of the two meetings could not be obtained as at press time.
A statement by Special Adviser to the governor of Public Affairs and Strategy, Mr. Eric Osagie, said: "There has been a change in the security apparatus of the governor of Edo state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. The affected personnel in the strategic overhaul include the ADC, CSO and the escort commander of the Government House.
"Being officers of the Nigeria Police Force such assignment and re-assignments of the rank and file, falls within the jurisdiction of the police organisation which effected the reassignment of the aforementioned officers.
"The exercise we believe will strengthen the internal security processes of the governor and the Government House and allow the governor time to focus on the developmental challenges confronting the state.
"We urge the good people of Edo State to continue to support the comrade governor in his determination to build a state we all can be proud of, economically buoyant, socially conducive and a peaceful home for all."
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state police command, Mr. Peter Ogboi, confirmed the development but said it was a normal security re-organisation bearing in mind that some of those affected have been with the governor since he assumed power.
9jabook sources investigations however revealed the cause of the assassination plot and how it was eventually aborted.
A reliable source close to the governor said before now, there had been two major camps among the security men attached to Oshiomhole’s office, with each faction pledging loyalty to the ADC of the CSO.
The friction between the two security chiefs reportedly led to several security lapses with each of the camps refusing to admit responsibility for the lapses.
Prominent among the security breaches was the invasion of the governor’s office by one unidentified woman few weeks ago, who was suspected to have been armed with native charms.
Our source said: "Could you imagine, in a place where you do not have armed security men at two main gates, a woman not known to the governor nor any members of his family entered the Government House and came very close to the governor without the security men notice."The woman believed to be armed with some native charms to harm the governor, entered the crowd and grabbed the governor as he was leaving his office for an engagement within his office.
"You will agree with me that if that woman happened to be a gunman, he would have easily killed the governor in the full glare of security men."
It was gathered that the latest shake up was coming on the heels of a petition by another arm of security details attached to the office of the governor, which raised alarm on the glaring threat to the governor’s life.
Though details of the petition could not be obtained, it was learnt that it alluded to the unresolved crisis among the security men attached to the office of the governor, saying that the development had led to the compromising of vital security matters.
The petition was said to have jolted the governor who immediately alerted the necessary security departments within and outside the state.
When newsmen visited the governor’s office yesterday, new security measures were introduced as visitors were thoroughly searched by security men before being allowed to enter the premises. Those who could not offer plausible reasons for being in the place were turned back
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