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•Ex-minister urges security agencies to arrest, prosecute perpetrators
From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Unknown gunmen suspected to be political thugs reportedly attack the convoy of the leader of the African Democratic Party in South-South, Chibuike Amaechi, on Friday.
The incident occurred as the former Minister of Transportation his community Ubima and Omuanwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Amaechi , former state governor, was in his community for e-registration as a member of the African Democratic Party, ADC.
It was gathered that before Amaechi arrived his community, some armed youths suspected to be members of a local vigilance group popularly called OSPAC, had already mounted a road block, turning back every bus identified carrying ADC members attending the visit.
This is even as unknown arsonists on Thursday night, set ablaze the ward office of the ADC in Ubima, Amaechi’s country home.
It was also gathered that the criminals invaded the community with heavy gun power to stop the former governor’s visit, shooting sporadically into community and riddled Amaechi’s family house gate with bullets.
On Friday, as Amaechi arrived to enter his community in the afternoon, the armed thugs stopped his convoy, but the security operatives in the team engaged the criminals.
A source in the convoy disclosed that when the security operatives in the team showed more superior fire power, the armed thugs fled into the bushes.
Addressing, his party members, who were present to witness the e-registration exercise, Amaechi urged them to be peaceful.
Amaechi thanked the Commissioner of Police, the Director of Department of State Service (DSS) and the Commandant of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC, for their swift intervention.
He said the security agencies showed professionalism in their quick response.
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Amaechi urged members of the party not to join in causing violence, noting that the tasks is left for the police to unravel, arrest and prosecute those behind the attacks.
He said: “I will thank the commissioner of police and the director of DSS. They showed a lot of professionalism, immediately I made contact with them.
“In fact, I wasn’t expecting that kind of cooperation. I thought they would be behind this criminals and not render support. But, all of us will agree that the Police came out, the NSCDC came, DSS came out. So, we are grateful to them. I’m grateful to them, especially those of them who are here.
“But they must also know that this cannot continue. The way they will show us that this cannot continue is that they must prosecute those who are involved in this crime.”
Amaechi urged the governor of the state to make efforts to provide adequate security in all parts of the state, to avert breakdown of law and order.
He encouraged members of the party to commence massive mobilisation, adding that the target is presidency.
Amaechi said: “I have been a governor, and I know the consequences of not protecting the lives of people. The people will begin to protect their lives by themselves because they don’t want to die.
“But, for now, everybody should calm down. Everybody should thank the Commissioner of Police. Everybody should thank the Director of SSS and the Commandant of NSCDC.
“Our role is to be calm, is to be peaceful. We are marching to Aso Rock. What they are doing is a distraction. What they are doing will not put food on your table.
“We are hungry. If you are not hungry, tell them I am hungry. People are dropping dead every day because of hunger. And there’s a few people who are stealing our money, and they say we should keep quiet.
“We can no longer keep quiet. ADC Rivers State, you must register en mass.You must make sure that we have enough members to surprise them. On election day, they will know whether we will vote or not.”
Ends.
