Jethro Ibileke/Benin
Police operatives on duty at venue of the Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal, located within the State High Court Complex along Sapele Road, clashed with men and officers of the Nigeria Prisons Service, over restriction of movement around the venue.

Movement of vehicles on major routes leading to the tribunal complex was restricted by the police, following an earlier clash between supporters of the APC and PDP at the tribunal venue, to ward off thugs and beef up security around the building.

‎Trouble was said to have started when a female prison officer ‎was prevented from gaining access to the state headquarters of the service located on Reservation Road, which was also blocked by the police.

The prison officer, said to be a superintendent and dressed in mufti, ‎had insisted on driving towards her office after she was advised to take an alternative route after the police operatives reportedly refused to grant her access even after she identified herself.

It was gathered that this led to a hot exchange of words and attracted the attention of passers-by and other motorists while the tribunal was still in session.

It later degenerated to a violent confrontation between the policemen and some prison officers, who shoved one another during the argument.

‎It was learnt that some prison warders who were reportedly mobilised ‎to the scene were chased away with the use of a pepper spray.

Though State Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu, could not be reached for comments, ‎the Public Relations Officer ‎of the state prison command, Aminu Sulaiman, confirmed the incident, saying “We received the report and the matter would be investigated.”