Immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has said the auto accident he narrowly survived on Tuesday, goes beyond a mere accident, alleging it was an attempted assassination on his life.
The New Diplomat had earlier reported that the accident occurred before Oluku junction along the popular Benin-Lagos bypass as the APC was heading to Usen, a community in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State for its campaign ahead of the September 19, 2020 poll in the state.
Oshiomhole in a statement by his media, Mr. Victor Oshioke asked security agencies to launch an investigation into the accident.
The accident claimed the lives of two policemen attached to his convoy, leaving two others who are currently receiving treatment in critical condition at the hospital.
According to Oshiomhole, a trailer veered off its course, hitting the Toyota Hilux vehicle carrying 7 policemen in his convoy.
The Hilux vehicle was forced off the road and in the process rammed into the Sports Utility vehicle conveying him.
The statement reads: “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.
“Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and other persons in the convoy , apart from those indicated above did not sustain any injuries.
“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.
“Finally we call on the security agencies to do everything possible to unravel the circumstances surrounding this incident, especially because of the threat to the life of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the violence which has been directed towards him and those around him in recent times.”
