ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Armed men suspected to be political thugs on Friday attacked the convoy of former Rivers State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, in Ikwerre Local Government Area, shortly after setting ablaze a ward office of the African Democratic Congress in his hometown.
The attackers reportedly engaged the convoy in a gun duel along the road between Ubima and Omuanwap, where the former minister had gone to complete his electronic registration as a member of the ADC.
Sources said that before Amaechi arrived in the community at about 12:15 p.m., suspected thugs had already mounted a roadblock, turning back buses believed to be conveying party supporters who had gathered for the visit.
The gunmen had earlier, on Thursday night, set the ADC ward office in Ubima ablaze.
The attackers, who allegedly stormed the community with heavy weapons to disrupt the visit, reportedly fired sporadically into the air and riddled the gate of Amaechi’s family residence with bullets.
However, when the former governor eventually arrived, the armed men attempted to stop his convoy, prompting security operatives attached to him to engage them.
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Witnesses said the attackers fled into nearby bushes after the security team responded with superior firepower.
Addressing hundreds of party members who gathered to witness his e-registration exercise, Amaechi urged supporters to remain calm and avoid retaliatory violence.
He thanked the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, the Director of the Department of State Services, and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for their swift intervention.
Amaechi, who spoke after inspecting the burnt party office, commended the security agencies for what he described as a professional response.
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 these criminals and not render support. But all of us will agree that the police came out, the NSCDC came out, and the DSS came out. So we are grateful to them. I’m grateful to them, especially those of them who are here.
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“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.”
The former minister also urged the Rivers State government to ensure adequate security across the state to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
“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,” he said.
Calling on party members to remain peaceful, Amaechi said the ADC’s focus remained on political mobilisation ahead of future elections.
“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 are 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 masse. You must make sure that we have enough members to surprise them. On election day, they will know whether we will vote or not“, he added.