Failed assassination of council boss, mass shooting at PDP rally signpost the evil days ahead
Samuel Nwanosike is seen as a rising political star in Ikwerre land and Rivers State. He is vocal and constructive. He is regarded as a great mobiliser. Above all, he is a strong ally and backer of Governor Nyesom Wike for years. He is often drafted to any sector that seems to need arm in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, such that when the party seemed to need strong publicity arm some years ago, Nwanosike was drafted to the secretariat on Aba Road to help out. He is savvy and fearless.
Nwanosike hails from same Ikwerre local council area with the former governor and now Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. This makes that local council area a hot spot in the coming elections because governors boast a lot about defeating their rivals in their wards and local councils. Nwanosike may be primed to ensure that Amaechi loses in his ward and local council of origin even as the minister heads President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign organisation. Now, the state seems to get hot ahead of the hot days.
So, it was that as soon as Nwanosike entered the arena at Ipo, a nearby community, to flag off of what he called PVC Sensitisation Rally, guns boomed. Bodies began to fall and blood began to spill, but Nwanosike lived to narrate the ordeal to newsmen late Thursday evening.
His account:
There is urgent need to put the records straight in the matter of the shooting that took place on Wednesday, November 14, 2018. On Tuesday November 6, 2018, I got intelligence that APC leaders in Ikwerre Local Council Area by instruction of the Minister of Transportation and others such as (names withheld), all leaders of APC in Ikwerre Local Government Area, met at a named hotel in Iguruta with a wanted criminal (he mentioned the name, alias School Boy) and gave clear instruction to these criminals. They promised to give them arms with instruction to attack any PDP rally in Ikwerre Council Area. I immediately summoned a Security Council meeting made up of SSS, Police, FRSC, the IG Monitoring Team, Area Commander, Four DPOs in the LGA, Civil Defence, even FRSC, and I presented this report to them.
I also told them that because INEC informed us in writing about their going to display Voters Register and give out PVC cards to those who registered from January to August 2018, it would be right to move round and sensitise the people on the need to collect their PVCs so they can participate in the coming elections.
The security chiefs assured me that because we got this intelligence timely, that they would provide adequate security to the PVC sensitisation rallies. Now, the first day of the rallies was November 7, Thursday, at Isiokpo Ward 2. I did inform the people of the plan of the leaders of the APC and that I had informed the security agencies and that nobody should be scared. We continued. However, I had fears about the Ubima rally. Ubima is the home of the Minister of Transportation. All you hear there are killing, maiming, kidnapping, and killing of security agents and innocent persons, to this day. We thought they would strike that day. As God would have it, we went and came out with joy. We felt there would be no more threat.
Now, at Ipo, at the venue of the latest rally, shooting began. In fact, immediately the elder of the community welcomed us, what we heard was sporadic shooting from all sides of the venue. Pandemonium broke out, but by the grace of God the few security men attached to me were able to provide shield. The attackers came with sophisticated weapons the type I had not heard. They were shooting innocent people, including myself. I was shot at. God kept me alive. I found myself being rescued by an Armoured Personnel Carrier that was patrolling along that road. I hopped into it and escaped.
Few minutes later, we got the report of what happened. While I was in that carrier, I peeped and saw the following persons; (he mentioned three names). I saw another young man whose face alone I know but not the name. They were shooting directly at innocent people. As we speak, one of our members that was shot and ran into the forest has not been recovered up till now. Search parties went round but did not find him. We do not know if Jonathan whose stock in trade is beheading people and taking corpses has gone to carry him. Others severely injured are in hospital. The area commander has gone to see them. I have informed all relevant authorities including the Governor of the State.
The purpose of this briefing is to alert the public of the new trend that the APC has brought to intimidate the people of Ikwerre LGA because they believe that the high level of popularity of the PDP in Ikwerre local council is a threat. Because the leader of their party in the state comes from that local government, everybody must be killed?
I am calling on Mr. President that he promised to protect the people of Nigeria and that Ikwerre Local Government is still under his protection. We want him to know that Ikwerre LGA has 154 oil wells and two flow stations. Mr. President should call his Minister of Transportation to order. I call on the IGP to act. This should not be like others. Lives of Ikwerre LGA are at risk. Mine is at risk. My bullet proof Jeep is riddled with bullets. I m sure all of you have seen the vehicle.
The Minister believes that as long as the Ikwerre LGA chairman is there, he would not win election. He says he is a Grade A minister, why not use his influence to woo us over? If he is that popular and is respected in his community, why annihilate us with bullets? Why not allow the good works he has done to win election for him? We also tell Nigerians that there are clear signs that APC is not interested in voting in this coming election. They want to kill and maim us all to win. We are saying as a people, we are law-abiding and would not want to take the law into our hands. That is why we are calling on security agencies to come to our aid.
We say this young man that was been declared wanted is going around un-harassed with dangerous weapons, staying at Ubima, kidnapping and killing innocent Rivers’ people and travellers from Imo State in the name of cultism and big money. We are saying that leaders of the APC who met at a hotel and gave this man the job to kill have questions to answer. They must be brought to book. Nigerians are watching, the international community is watching. If democracy is for the people, if you kill the same people, who do you govern?
At this point, question and answer ensued between the chairman and newsmen:
Are you saying you accuse the Minister? What are your facts?
I have told you. The meeting was held on the previous Tuesday by the APC and we told the security agencies. They promised to provide security to us and any other political party. When a witch cries in the night and a child dies in the morning. We are saying clearly that we see romance with this wanted man. I saw him myself.
The essence of this conference is to call the attention of the international community and Mr. President that this matter must be investigated. What faith do the people have to come out for the general election? Proper investigation of this matter would serve as deterrent and encourage the people to come out. The attackers would learn their lesson and keep away.
Why did the security agencies not stop the attack?
It’s only the police that can answer the question.
When you got there, did you see the security they provided?
If they did, the boys would not have attacked.
Were the attackers challenged when the shooting started?
If they were, they would not have succeeded. I said I hopped into armoured carrier and left. Right now, we can’t find one young man. We fear that ‘School Boy’ kills and carries corpses. We suspect that he is into ritual killing and sale of human parts. Only the security agents can get that explanation from him.
What have the security agencies done?
The names of those who held the meeting were mentioned, the hotel where the meeting was held was mentioned. I have no right to bear arms. I did what I was expected to do.
They told me to make statement. The Commissioner of Police asked me to make statement and I have done that. Lives here are in danger; people have life-threatening injuries. Some are undergoing surgeries. This is bad. I sent the video of the outcome to the PPRO to show him that it was more serious than they were able to admit.
Reactions:
Rivers State Government:
(By Emma Okah; Commissioner for Information and Communications)
Rivers State Government has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state of masterminding the shooting of innocent PDP members who were having a meeting at Ipo in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State (today) 14th November, 2018.
Gunmen suspected to be APC supporters opened fire at PDP members who were holding a meeting, critically wounding scores of them while one is extremely critical.
This is unprovoked violence and attack on these innocent persons will not be accepted by the state.
RSG condemns this situation in all ramifications and calls on the Police and other security agencies to fish out these cowards and bring them to book.
Meanwhile, we appeal to PDP members in the State to remain calm and avoid any reprisal action as two wrongs do not make a right.
Magnus Abe:
(Statement by: Parry Saroh Benson, Spokesperson to Abe)
‘Let’s not plunge Rivers into violence’
Magnus Abe is leader of APC faction in the state.
His press team said: “The Senator representing the Rivers South-East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe has warned politicians not to plunge Rivers State into the kind of violence and mayhem that characterised the 2015 general election.”
Abe in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday and signed by his spokesperson, Parry Saroh Benson, condemned in its totality the attack on a political gathering at Ipo in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
Senator Abe said any attack on law-abiding citizens anywhere in Rivers State must be condemned by all, describing it as barbaric, insensitive and uncalled for.
He said: “The time has come for politicians in the state to unite and ensure that peace reigns rather than name calling and finger pointing, insisting that, until perpetrators of such heinous crimes are apprehended and brought to justice, peace will continue to elude us as a people. We should unite as Rivers people and ensure that perpetrators of these dastardly acts are apprehended and brought to book.
“It is our responsibility as a people to work with the security agencies across party lines to ensure that we maintain law and order. We cannot afford to return to the violence and mayhem that characterised the 2015 general elections, and the poisoned atmosphere of bitterness and acrimony that enveloped our state.”
According to him, “We must create an enabling environment for politicking and ensure that Rivers people of every persuasion can freely promote their preference without violence, intimidation, let or hindrance.
“Anyone however highly placed who acts in defiance of this principle must be ready to answer to Rivers people.”
Abe, who is a frontline governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general election in the state, extended his heartfelt sympathy to the families who were affected by the incident.
“This is the time for us to chart a new narrative for Rivers State anchored on ideas and bold visions that can reclaim our heritage of peace, progress and prosperity,” Abe stated.
APC:
Chris Fineface
We know nothing about what they are saying. We understand their attackers are their former allies who killed and maimed APC members in 2015 and subsequent rerun elections who feel abandoned by the PDP. At least, that’s the information we are hearing.
If they truly had credible information about complicity of anyone, why didn’t they approach security agents for arrests and investigation? You can see that the PDP people simply made up the story to divert attention from the real incident.
Our real worry is that the PDP know that they brought this on themselves. They only want to use it to lay a foundation for a fresh narrative that will kick start fresh round of violence as the 2019 elections approach. You know that they thrive on violence.
Unfortunately, PDP leaders in Rivers State are fixated in their archaic and time-forgotten style of raising wild accusations and name-calling instead of tackling serious issues with all the seriousness they deserve. Of course, they find it difficult to follow-up on unsubstantiated claims that do not go beyond the washy attention they often crave.
Assuming without conceding that they know anyone or persons working in cahoots with a criminal to attack them, should their first port of call be the media? Of course, the security agencies are there but they won’t go to them because they know that diligent investigations will lead back to PDP.
I think someone should let PDP know that Rivers people and Nigerians have since moved into modern times; the train has since left the station.
Our concern is that, as it is typical of PDP, this is a clear foundation that they are laying to commence the next orgy of killings, maiming and violence that characterise their politics as 2019 elections approach.
We call on security agencies to arrest PDP members and officials of Rivers State government who have mentioned names of persons to assist them in the thorough investigation of the said violence. We believe that such investigation will expose what the PDP people are doing to themselves. They should stop calling APC members’ names in vain just to cover up their evil deeds.
