Precisely two months after he narrowly escaped death following an attack on his convoy at Auchi area, Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, again came under gun attack by thugs hired by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while his campaign train stopped at Usen town, Ovia South West Local Government Area of the state.
Louis Odion,Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation who gave a vivid account of what happened said ina statement that Governor Oshiomhole had paid the customary homage to the Onogie of Usen, His Royal Highness Oluogbe II at his palace where he received a rousing welcome from the monarch and the council of chiefs as well a tumultuous crowd of well-wishers gathered outside the palace.
At about 6 PM, Governor Oshiomhole’s convoy left the palace. It had not travelled too far down the road when it ran into a barricade. Naturally, the security details attached to the governor came down to remove the bar. As they were clearing the let, tens of heavily armed thugs emerged from nowhere and opened fire on the governor for several seconds.
Dutifully, the brave security details attached to the governor, supported by an additional contingent of regular policemen deployed to maintain law and order, rose to the occasion. They were able to shield the governor, key government functionaries and others including leaders of Edo Action Congress of Nigeria to safety without sustaining any human casualties. But several official vehicles including Toyota Landcruisers, Hilux pick-up van and Toyota Corolla saloon car were either badly damaged or riddled with bullets. Apparently annoyed that they missed their target, the thugs later descended on the near-by police post and vandalised it.
Odion said the Edo State Government wishes to condemn this latest assault on Governor Oshiomhole in strongest terms and urge the national leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to call their members in Edo State to order. The misguided elements in the rank in Edo State should realise that not only they have the monopoly of violence.
He added that but for the uncommon restraint displayed by the Governor’s team in the face of sheer provocation,there could have been heavy casualty toll. The State Government has however enjoined the good people of Edo to remain calm and be law-abiding, so as not to play into the hands of those bent on plunging the state into anarchy to escape imminent defeat at the polls.