The governorship campaign rally of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the hometown of Nigeria’s first lady, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers ended abruptly on Tuesday when unknown persons threw explosive devices at the venue, witnesses said.
The witnesses said that gunmen also fired sporadically at the crowd at Okrika National School field, while Mr David Alabere, a leader of APC in Okrika, was addressing the rally.
The explosions and shooting forced party supporters and officials to run for safety, witnesses said.
The explosion damaged the roof of a building at the school.
The APC governorship candidate in Rivers, Dr Dakuku Peterside, his running-mate, Mr Asita Okorie Asita, and other senior party officials, were quickly evacuated from the venue when the shooting became rampant, witnesses said.
The casualty figure could not be ascertained.
Earlier, during a courtesy call on King Elliot Obudibo, the traditional ruler of Ogoloma in Okrika Local Government Area, Peterside pledged to provide the people democracy dividends if elected.
Mrs Ibim Semenitari, Rivers commissioner for information and Communication, who was at the rally, confirmed the attack and expressed shock that some persons opened fire on the crowd during the rally.
The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, did not answer telephone calls made to his line after several efforts to enable him to comment on the incident.
