Ex Militant denies plan to disrupt Edo elections

Chidi Samuel

‘General’ Pere Ojune, an ex militant who the police say  was one those arrested in a hotel in Benin City, the Edo State capital, has denied reports that he was arrested with firearms. The ex miitant was one of those that police claim were to be used to disrupt the postponed Edo state gubernitorial election. He made the denial while being paraded at the police command headquaters in Benin.

Ojune  however denied  the allegation, insisting he was invited by the police after he was informed that Ade, his younger brother, was in police custody for illegal possession of firearms.

The ex militant believes that his detention, for an offence committed by his younger brother, is a fallout of his recent defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He also denied that he was one of the 8,000 militants allegedly ‘imported’ from neighbouring states to unleash violence in the state.

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He said, “It was on Thursday that I saw my younger brother Ade on handcuff and he told me he was arrested at Upper Sakpoba road that they caught him with one double barrel and one cut to size gun.

“He told the police that I am the only one that can come and rescue him and that was why he brought the police to my place. I had earlier warned them not to be involved in any illegal deal.

“The police said I must come and see the CP myself. I came here with my car and he asked me how I knew this man and I told them he is my brother. They said I should wait and see the CP that was how they kept me inside the cell till today I have not done anything, I am a repentant militant now working with everybody to ensure peace in our society”, he stated.

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Ade on his part said it was one man, whose name he gave simply as ‘CSP’, who promised to give him N10, 000 and a parcel of land that gave him the gun to deliver in a hotel.