Suspected political thugs disrupted an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in the Umunachi community of Omuma Local Government Area, Rivers State, on Monday morning. The disturbance caused panic among residents, some of whom fled for safety. The rally eventually proceeded after the party paid a courtesy call to Omuma’s monarch at his palace.
Onyekachi Ojiegbe, APC chairman in Omuma LGA, described the attack as an attempt to intimidate APC members from campaigning. He said, “What happened here today was an eyesore. Since last night we have been guarding the equipment with some security agencies that came with us. However, around 5:25 am a group of people arrived in three Hilux vehicles and two with Government House police regalia. They fired sporadically into the air to disperse our supporters, carted away two generators, vandalised my car beyond repair, and also damaged the tactical team vehicle of the Area Command, Oyigbo.” When he asked the police why they did not intervene, he was told that the assailants were their colleagues, suspected of coming from Government House, which prevented the police from shooting at them.
Sogbeye Eli, spokesperson for the APC Campaign Council in the state, confirmed the attack in a Monday statement and called on State Police Commissioner Okon Effiong to order an immediate investigation, arrest, and prosecution of those responsible.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) denied any involvement and rejected the allegation that policemen attached to Government House were among the attackers. Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, Director of Publicity and Communications for the Rivers State PDP Campaign Council, described the accusation as “propaganda.”
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