Julius Abure, the factional national chairman of the Labour Party (LP), was reportedly attacked at the Benin Airport on Friday, amid rising internal tensions within the party.
According to eyewitness accounts and reports circulating online, Abure was assaulted shortly after arriving at the airport.
Details surrounding the incident remain unclear, but sources close to the chairman claim that a group of unidentified individuals attempted to obstruct and physically engage him as he made his way from the arrival terminal.
Abure’s security team reportedly intervened promptly and escorted him to safety. No official statement has been issued by the police as of the time of this report, and it is unclear if any arrests have been made.
The attack comes amid ongoing leadership disputes within the Labour Party. Abure has been locked in a protracted battle over the control of the party with another faction led by Lamidi Apapa.
The rift has led to multiple legal and political confrontations over the past year.
In 2024, Abure was arrested in Benin City following a petition over an alleged mob attack on a party youth leader.
Police claimed they recovered a short gun and live ammunition during that arrest, though his supporters dismissed the charges as politically motivated.
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The latest incident is expected to intensify scrutiny over the security situation within the party and the broader political environment ahead of forthcoming party primaries and the 2027 general elections.
Efforts to reach Abure’s spokesperson and officials from the Labour Party for comment were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
