The governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki has ordered the immediate arrest of a former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, for mobilising thugs to vandalise banks and disrupt the peace of the state under the guise of protesting the new naira scarcity.
This was made known in a statement by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare which was obtained by Africa Today News, New York.
‘We have been around the city all day, speaking with some protesters, and we have done our investigations. We discovered that it is more than meets the eye. At this juncture, we will like to call on security agencies to call Adams Oshiomhole for questioning. He should be arrested and made to account for his movement in the last few days especially here in Benin City. Oshiomhole deliberately instigated the protest of the people. I know people will think the protest is as a result of lack of naira notes but even if that is the case, Nigerians should know which political party is involved because it is ironic the political party that is responsible for this policy is the same party sending people to destroy PDP billboards,’ the governor said.
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Meanwhile, the ongoing scarcity of the Naira notes took a dangerous dimension on Wednesday morning as no fewer than three persons lost their lives following violent protests that erupted in parts of Nigeria.
Africa Today News, New York reports that in Benin City, the Edo State capital, angry residents, who could not access their monies in commercial banks, took to the streets in protests that led to loss of lives after security forces fired live bullets and teargas to disperse the unruly crowds.
The body of one of the protesters was deposited in front of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) amid sporadic gunfire and teargas from policemen and soldiers.
The protesters had attempted to break into the state branch of the CBN located along Akpakpava Street, a commercial nerve centre in Benin City, where most commercial banks are also located. Thereafter, they attacked some commercial banks located in the area.