The factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, reportedly escaped an assassination attempt late Sunday night.
The incident, allegedly orchestrated by armed thugs accompanied by some members of the police force under the command of a senior police officer in the state, has sent shockwaves through the political landscape.
According to a statement released to journalists in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Monday, the suspected assailants targeted Ehie in what appeared to be a carefully planned attack.
The statement, signed by Ehie’s legislative aide, Ken Uchendu, revealed that the swift intervention of the factional Speaker’s security details played a crucial role in foiling the assassination attempt.
The motive behind the alleged attack remains unclear, but speculations suggest political differences and factional disputes within the Rivers State political scene may be contributing factors.
Authorities are expected to launch a thorough investigation into the incident to unravel the circumstances surrounding the attempted assassination and identify those responsible.
“At about 11 p.m. on Sunday, the 19th day of November 2023, a group of armed thugs and rogue Police Officers led by one SP. Irikefe London Owen, a superintendent of Police attached to the CTU B 3 RSV, and CSP Salihu Masalachi attacked the private residence of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Barr. Edison Ogerenye Ehie, DSSRS, fully armed with an intention to assassinate Mr. Speaker and his family.
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“However, the thugs and rogue police officers led by the two above-named police officers in Rivers State were vehemently repelled in a gun battle by the official security details attached to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Barr. Edison Ogerenye Ehie, DSSRS.
“It is imperative to note that the armed rogues and officers were properly and fully captured by CCTV footage in the residence, which shall be made available to all media houses, including CNN, Aljazeera and other national and international media outlets for the records.
“In the same vein, the Speaker would be addressing a World Press conference on Monday the 20th of November, 2023.
“Let it be on record that Rivers people, boys, girls, women, men including the aged shall in our numbers occupy the streets stark naked in demonstration against the Nigerian Police and those sponsoring violence in Rivers State, no matter how highly placed, Rivers people will resist them.
“Finally, should there be a breakdown of Law and order in Rivers State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should hold the above-named officers, the Rivers State Police Command, and their sponsors in Rivers State responsible,” Uchendu stated.