Police reveal identity of man caught with dagger at Peter Obi Ibadan rally

The Oyo State Police Command has given insight on how a man caught with a double-faced Jack-knife at the Labour Party presidential campaign rally in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, was arrested.

A video of the man caught with the weapon at the Lekan Salami Stadium Adamasingba, Ibadan, had trended on Twitter.

Some eyewitnesses had alleged that the suspect positioned himself in a place the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi was expected to walk through to the podium.

Reports also claimed that the Wednesday incident was an assassination attempt on the former Anambra governor.

But a statement issued on Saturday by the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso, said the report was untrue, misleading and a product of a figment of the author’s imagination.

According to the PPRO, preliminary investigations revealed that the event was “characterized with effective deployment of operational, tactical and intelligence assets which was monitored under the highest levels of professionalism”.

Identifying the suspect as Lateef Wasiu, the command’s spokesman said the suspect was arrested by “Police operatives stationed at the venue for being in possession of a concealed weapon, a double-faced Jack-knife on the inside of his suit in violation of the 2022 Electoral Act and other guiding regulations.

“Assertively, the Command wishes to re-iterate again that there was no assassination attempt on the life of Mr. Peter Obi, the Presidential Aspirant of the Labour Party contrary to widespread, unfounded speculations”.

The statement added that Lateef Wasiu has already been charged to court.