The Labour Party yesterday confirmed the arrest of its National Chairman, Julius Abure, in Benin City, Edo State.

State Chairman Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi, Ken Omusi, Simeon Obehi, and two others were also arrested.

A statement by the spokesperson of the Zone 5 covering Edo and Delta States, Tijani Momoh, said Abure and the others were arrested yesterday afternoon for alleged conspiracy, brutal assault, attempted murder, robbery, grievous harm, and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

The statement reads: “The arrest follows a petition addressed to the Inspector-General of Police (IG) Kayode Egbetokun, which was endorsed by Office of the IG to the AIG Zone 5, Benin, for investigation.

“Detectives of Zone 5, upon surveillance and with warrants of arrest, apprehended Abure, Ogbaloi and others with a pump-action gun and three rounds of live ammunition. It is expedient to state that contrary to false narratives on the social media, Abure was not assaulted by the police detectives.

“While effecting the arrest, some persons with Abure obstructed the detectives and made Abure sit on the ground to curry sympathy from the public.

“The AIG Zone 5 Headquarters, Benin City, Arungwa Nwazue, has directed speedy investigation into the matter, and anyone found culpable will be arraigned in court.”

But the Lamidi Apapa group said Abure was arrested in connection with alleged forgery and perjury, according to a statement by the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi.

The statement reads: “Abure’s arrest today (yesterday) was in connection with the police investigation report that indicted and established a prima facie case of forgery, perjury and criminal conspiracy over his involvement in the forgery of the signature of a FCT High Court Judge, Commissioners of Oath, and generating his own receipts from the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

“His arrest is also connected to the arson and attempted murder of our National Youth Leader.”