Three men in Offa, Kwara State, were at the weekend, arrested by military men while allegedly attempting to assassinate former Chairman of Offa Local Government, Alhaji Saheed Popoola.

Popoola, an Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, member had been having a running battle with the government, leading to his removal from office.

Journalists were told that a pistol was allegedly recovered from the men at a drinking joint in the town where they were with the ex-chairman and caused a breach of the peace not knowing that the military men who were in mufti were also present.

The arrest was made just as Popoola, now the chairmanship candidate of the ACN in the forthcoming court-ordered fresh chairmanship election, was warming up for the election.

Confirming the arrest yesterday, the military, through the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of the Armoured Brigade, Sobi Barracks, Ilorin, Augustine Bello, said the suspects had been handed over to the police.

He, however, said that the army could not ascertain the mission of the people, but only suspected them of “planning to perpetrate a criminal act.”

Spokesman of the police in the state, Olufemi Fabode, confirmed the arrest of the suspects and also said their motive was yet to be ascertained, assuring that the matter would be investigated.