A police chief who opened fire and executed a suspect linked to Friday evening’s attempt on Johnson Suleman’s life has been arrested, police said.

Ayodele Suleiman, a chief superintendent of police in charge of Auchi, was taken into custody as investigation opens into his controversial action at the scene of the attack, police said. 

Mr Suleman, leader of Pentecostal movement Omega Ministries, escaped the attempted assassination with his wife and children at about 5:00 p.m., he said in a statement. Seven people were killed, including at least police officers who were among the preacher’s security team, officials said.

“As part of the measures of the Command concerning the circumstances that led to the death of one of the surviving members of the monstrous gang that attacked the convoy of Apostle Johnson Suleiman, General overseer of Omega Fire Ministry, the outgoing CP now AIG Abutu Yaro fdc has ordered the withdrawal of CSP Ayodele Suleiman, DPO Auchi, for debriefing at the State Headquarters with immediate effect,” Edo police deputy spokesperson Jennifer Iwegbu said in a statement Saturday morning. 

The police promised that “no stone would be left unturned to unearth the circumstances surrounding it.” 

Mr Suleman had alleged cover-up after the police chief killed the suspect, who had been arrested by local vigilante members while fleeing the scene of the assassination attempt on Friday evening. The DPO’s extra-judicial action was captured on video that has since made social media rounds. It was unclear how many people were involved in the attack, and Mr Suleman accused the police of complicating the investigation by executing the only suspect arrested in connection with it.