Three policemen are reportedly shot dead following a clash with suspected political thugs on Thursday in Benin City.
The incident occurred when the APC governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the reinstated state deputy governor, Phillip Shaibu and others, arrived from Abuja aboard a chartered private jet and were leaving the Benin Airport.
While some sources said three policemen sustained gunshot injuries, others said three policemen lost their lives during the clash.
It was gathered that unknown gunmen who rode in a Toyota Sienna bus at the exit gate of the airport opened fire at the convoy of Okpebholo and Shaibu, a development that led to a reprisal gunshot by armed security details attached to the APC candidate and Shaibu.
The timely intervention of the Mobile Squad of the Nigeria Police, however, brought the situation under control.
The shooting occurred just a day after a Federal Court in Abuja ordered the Inspector-General of Police to restore the security details of Shaibu as Deputy Governor of Edo State, following the nullification of his impeachment.