Unknown gunmen, Friday night, unleashed mayhem in Obrikom, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, killing a former Chairman of the area, Christopher Adube, and his two children.The gunmen also shot and killed two persons, who were with the former chairman at his residence before leaving the building unscathed.
The incident, which was said to have happened at about 8.30pm, caused panic within Obrikom and its neighbouring community. Adube was also described as a traditional ruler.
It was gathered that the gunmen first shot at the second son and the first daughter of the former chairman before killing him (Adube), who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in the area.
Speaking in a telephone interview with Saturday PUNCH, the State Deputy Chairman of the APC, Prince Peter Odiche, disclosed that Adube’s driver was also not spared by the unknown gunmen, who shot and killed him at close range.
Odiche, who is an indigene of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, added that the residence of the State House of Assembly candidate for the APC in the area, Mr. Vincent Ogbuagu, was touched by suspected arsonists.
“I learnt they (unknown gunmen) killed Hon. Christopher Adube, his second son and his first daughter, his driver and two other persons that visited him (Adube).
“The incident happened this evening at about 8.30pm. The house of the APC House of Assembly candidate for ONELGA, Hon. Vincent Ogbuagu was burnt,” Odiche stressed.
He explained that the ugly incident, which occurred barely a week to the governorship and House of Assembly election, was aimed at intimidating APC members and supporters.
The state APC deputy chairman blamed the Peoples Democratic Party in ONELGA for the development, saying, “The PDP in ONELGA is trying to do everything to stop us (APC) from coming out to vote. They want to scare us.”
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, promised to get back to our correspondent, adding that he was still making contacts to ascertain what happened in the area.
Reacting, the State PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, told our correspondent that the APC was playing politics with security matters.
Nwanosike said, “If the APC chieftain is accusing the PDP in ONELGA for an incident that just occurred, then the police should interrogate him (APC chieftain). The PDP in ONELGA is not violent. So, the police should be allowed to do their investigation.
“The APC should stop politicising security matters, especially when it involves human lives. I will not make further comment until the police conclude their investigation.”
