Oshiomhole’s aide: SSS, police quiz ACN, PDP chieftains

Operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) and the police, who are conducting investigation into the killing of Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde, the Principal Secretary/Special Adviser to the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, have questioned chieftains of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state and that of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Sources told Sunday Tribune that investigators intensified their efforts following the directive given by the presidency to the police that the killers of Oyerinde must be fished out.

Although the sources hinted at a decision to comb the possible political leads in the investigation, it was gathered that some other leads are also being explored.

Sources in Abuja confirmed that the investigators had been told to explore all leads and take into consideration any minute detail that could provide the breakthrough in the investigation.

Sources said that the security agencies had refused to see the killing only as politically motivated and that some other sources, including the possible interpersonal relationships kept by the deceased are being looked into.

For instance, it was gathered that associates of the deceased are also being invited for questioning in view of the thinking that some persons might have been uncomfortable with Oyerinde’s rising profile in Edo government.

“Oyerinde was regarded as a powerful force behind Governor Adams Oshiomhole. He was an intelligent person and that was the reason the governor asked him to come and assist in Edo. He might have taken some decisions which might not have gone down well with some persons who could have felt aggrieved about his rising profile in the government,” a source said.

“The operatives are still gathering their facts together, so we cannot talk of a breakthrough yet,” another source stated in Abuja, on Friday, adding that the detectives had been asked to ensure a painstaking probe and get to the roots of the matter.

“So far, there is no clear lead yet, but the operatives are combing all possible sources.