Port Harcourt Boils as Party Thugs Hack Nine APC Supporters to Death
The tension in Port Harcourt has turned bloody as opposition party thugs have allegedly murdered about nine top members of the APC in cold blood. FAITH FAITHFUL reports from Port Harcourt.
Evil visited many families last week as the nation prepares for the governorship and house of assembly elections tomorrow.
With less than 24 hours to go, about nine members of the All Progressives Congress [APC] have allegedly been murdered in cold blood at different locations in the oil rich city since Friday and Saturday the 3rd and 4th of April, 2015.
A top community source told our correspondent that the gunmen alleged to be political thugs of the People’s Democratic Party in the area crashed into homes at about 7.30 pm and 10 pm on Friday at Obrikom, near Omuku, Headquarters of the local government area.
The hoodlums numbering about eight were masked and clad in military camouflage and chanted anti-APC slogans as they spread terror and death on their trail.
Victims of the killers include former Local Government Council Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Chief Christopher Adube and his two sons and others.
Though the former leader of LGA legislative Assembly at Obor, Hon. Vincent Ogbuagwu escaped death as he was out of town when the rampaging gunmen stormed his residence, his elder brother, Hon. Ogbuagwuo, the Ochi Oha 1 of Obor Community, also a stalwart of the APC in the Local Government Area, was not so lucky: he was shot and killed at close range and his house and security guard were set ablaze by the gunmen.
In Omuku town, the thugs gunned down four persons, including a 34 year old tricycle operator, Chineme Okeke Benson.
An eyewitness told The Daily Times that Okeke was shot by the hoodlums inside his tricycle along Sambo Road in Omuku.
Not done yet, Daily Times learnt that the killer squad moved to Egbada, another quiet community in the area and killed another Ochi Oha 1, Chief Okwu Osia was a notable supporter of the All Progressives Congress in the area.
Checks by the Daily Times revealed that the hoodlums operated uninterrupted between 7.30 through 10 pm uninterrupted in the area.
Even as the State Government vowed to deal ruthlessly with the murderous gang, the Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the killing of nine persons in the area.
Confirming the killings in Port Harcourt, the Police Public Relations Officer [PPRO], DSP Ahmed Muhammad said the police are on the trail of the culprits and assured that they must be brought to justice.
When contacted, the widow of the slain APC chieftain, Mrs. Adube accused the PDP Chairman of involvement in her husband’s death. She maintained that the gunmen said they were sent by the PDP Chairman before they shot her husband to death.
While addressing journalists in Port Harcourt lately, the State Governor, Rt Hon. Rotimi Amaechi said over 307 APC supporters have been allegedly killed in Rivers State since electioneering campaigns began.
During a condolence visit on the families of late Chief Christopher Adube in Obirikom,
Governor Amaechi assured the bereaved family that his administration will fish out the killers and prosecute them accordingly.
“All those responsible for this bloody act will pay for it. This kind of killing of APC supporters has gone beyond political violence. Why should politicians go beyond politicking and try to take any body’s life? They will pay for this, I promise to fish out the culprits”, he assured.
Earlier on his door to door sensitization tour to wards in Khana Local Government Area, Amaechi assured that votes for tomorrow’s guber elections in the state will count at every polling unit.
While addressing crowds of APC supporters in Bani, Bean Ken-Khana, Kaani-babee, Nwiyakara, Kono-Boue, Uegwere-Boue, Zaakpor, Kaani and Opu-oko communities, Amaechi frowned at the electoral fraud and rigging of the last Presidential election results by the PDP and warned that any criminally minded person who attempts to deprive Rivers people from exercising their legitimate franchise will be made to face the full weight of the law.
According to him, “We are all witnesses to what happened during the last presidential election where the PDP carried out electoral fraud with INEC officers and the Police. But now, the police or the military will not harass you again.
“I came to thank you all for refusing to vote without result sheets last Saturday (28th March). I called one of my friends in the Army and cautioned him about the last election and the victory of Buhari, he told me on phone that, ‘Sir, Parade has changed gear’.
“What it means is that, supporters of APC will no longer be molested and harassed by the Police or the Military. Everybody can come out and exercise their franchise. Ensure that, your party agents are at every polling unit, at least 50 persons per unit, wait after accreditation and voting before allowing the party agents to follow the results to the collation centres. Our votes for the guber election will count at the polling units and recorded in the result sheets”, Amaechi said.
The State Chief Executive also urged Rivers people and the people of Khana in particular to massively turn out for tomorrow’s election and vote for the governorship flag bearer of the APC, Dr. Dakuku Adol-Peterside.
“Even if the PDP stole our votes and our mandate last Presidential election, they have agreed to behave this time around. You have a duty to come out enmass, don’t go to farm on Saturday, it is set aside for you to come out and vote the candidate of your choice. We will all vote for APC and ensure Dakuku becomes our governor”, Amaechi stated.
Amaechi who also doubles as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, advised decampees from the PDP to APC to join the party and increase the votes for the APC guber candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, adding that, it was the only meaningful means of bringing the federal government closer to the state to increase the pace of development after May 29th, 2015.
“I came to seek your votes for the Gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections. Tell your brothers and sisters in PDP who are willing to decamp or has decamped to APC to remain steadfast. They should join us to increase the votes of APC.
“If we come together and vote Dakuku and our Lawmakers on the platform of APC, when Buhari assumes office in May 29th, 2015, we expect the pace of development in Rivers State to also increase”, Amaechi explained.”
