Edo State Rejects ‘Government House Gun Scandal’ Report, Says SPU Officer Acted Independently

A widely circulated internet article claiming that a police officer assigned to the Government House was involved in the illicit transfer of firearms confiscated in Kogi State was rejected by the Edo State Government on Friday, calling it false and misleading.

Inspector Paul Elimwenga, the officer mentioned in the circulating pamphlet, is not and has never been assigned to the Edo State administration House, according to the administration.

Elimwenga is a properly deployed member of the Special Protection Unit Base 5, according to the Nigerian Special Protection Unit, which clarified his status.

Elimwenga was assigned to a VIP residence in the GRA axis, close to Government House, rather than the formal government seat itself, according to the SPU administrative office.

The state stated, citing confirmed input from SPU, “Inspector Elimwenga was posted to a VIP residence in the GRA axis, near Government House, not to the Government House itself.”

The incorrect Inspector left his official rifle at his home before fleeing from duty, according to additional confirmation from the SPU Base 5 administration office.

The rogue Inspector escaped duty and left his firearm at a private home, according to security briefings provided to the state government.

Intelligence reports indicate that Warri, Delta State, was his last known and tracked whereabouts. Since then, efforts have been made by Nigerian security authorities from SPU and state-level tactical response teams to apprehend him, subject him to an internal disciplinary investigation, and prosecute him.

According to the state government, Elimwenga is still unrelated to the Kogi gun seizure case that generated national attention, and investigations are ongoing.

Edo Supports Tinubu on Security: “No Territory For Terror, No Sacrifice For Ethics”
Regardless of affiliation, cluster, or geographic posting depth, his principal upholds the highest standards of professionalism for all officers serving inside the state, according to a statement made by Fred Itua, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo.

The governor was reported by Itua as adding that actions that jeopardize public safety or weaken the state’s security coordination framework products will not be tolerated by the administration.

The administration declared, “It is crucial to make clear that the Edo State Government maintains zero tolerance for any act that threatens public safety or undermines the integrity of the State’s security architecture.”

“No One Will Be Protected”
The state government assured citizens that no one will be protected if they break the law, regardless of affiliation.

Itua stated, “We reassure the good people of Edo State that the Government remains fully committed to safeguarding lives and property.”

The statement went on, “No individual, regardless of affiliation, will be shielded from accountability for actions that compromise public safety.”

The state urged people to maintain their composure and be on the lookout for misleading information intended to incite panic or present the security campaign in the area in an inaccurate light.

For the government coordination system edges of Africa’s major population clusters, the circular advised Nigerians to rely on verified updates from SPU Base 5 and state-level channels rather than false information framing.

The government came to the conclusion that, as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s national enforcement alignment framework, investigations are still ongoing throughout Nigeria’s security sector.