Two police personnel attached to former Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, died after a trailer rammed into his convoy on Tuesday afternoon.
The Former Governor of Edo State described the accident as an assassination attempt on his life.
The gravity of the accident and the fatalities involved led the party to suspend further campaign, according to a statement issued after the accident.
A statement Victor Oshioke, senior media aide, Office of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole explained that the former labour union leader was on his way to a rally.
“Some minutes after 12 pm today Tuesday September 1, 2020, there was a motor accident involving the convoy of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, along Benin Lagos by-pass before Oluku junction.
“The convoy was headed to Usen Community in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State, where Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was expected to appear at a campaign rally alongside Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the APC governorship candidate in the September 19, 2020 election in the state, when a trailer driving in the same direction veered off its course, hit the back up Toyota Hilux vehicle carrying 7 policemen, forcing it off the road, into the bush and rammed into the Sports Utility vehicle carrying Comrade Oshiomhole, causing substantial damage.
“We are sad to report that two police personnel in the Toyota Hilux truck lost their lives while two others are in critical condition receiving treatment at a hospital in the state.
“It is pertinent to state, without fear of contradiction, that the convoy of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was maintaining legal speed limits when this incident occurred.
“This explains why the trailer, travelling in the same direction over ran the Hilux truck off the road and still hit the SUV carrying Comrade Oshiomhole, causing substantial damage.
“Without prejudice to police investigations, eyewitnesses account of the incident suggest, and we believe rightly too, that this was an assassination attempt, targeting Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
“It is painful that innocent policemen performing their legal duties lost their lives in this very unfortunate incident.
“While we pray for the quick recovery of the injured policemen, we extend our condolences to the families of the departed.
“Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has visited the injured policemen in the hospital and deployed some of his aides to be on standby at the hospital to ensure that the wounded policemen are given the best medical attention possible.
“The case was immediately reported at the Ekiadolor Police Station, and investigations are ongoing,” Oshioke said.
He called on security agencies to do everything possible to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident, especially because of the threat to the life of Oshiomhole and the violence which has been directed towards him and those around him in recent times.
(C) Control TV 2020.
