THE Rivers State Police Command said on Saturday that it had begun a manhunt for the killers of the former council chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Chief Christopher Adube and eight other persons.
The unknown gunmen also shot and killed Adube’s two children, his driver and some members of the All Progressives Congress who visited him at his Obrikom residence.
Two persons were injured during the mayhem unleashed in Obrikom/Obor communities while the hoodlums escaped unscathed.
Reacting to the incident on Saturday, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, told Sunday PUNCH that contrary to reports that seven persons lost their lives in the night raid, the hoodlums actually killed nine persons.
Mohammad explained that the police was leaving no stone unturned to track down those responsible for the killing of the ex-council boss, his children and six others.
He said, “It was about 19.30 hours of last Friday when some unknown armed men invaded Obrikom/Obor communities and went on a shooting spree, killing nine and injuring two in the process.
“The house of an APC House of Assembly candidate, Vincent Ogbuagu, was set ablaze. However, a manhunt for the criminals is on as we appeal to members of the public to assist in making available credible information in this respect.”
The State APC had since reacted to the killing of the former council chairman and eight others, even as it identified some of those killed as party members.
Rivers State deputy chairman of the APC, Prince Peter Odiche, told Sunday PUNCH that the Peoples Democratic Party was responsible for the night raid that claimed nine lives in Obrikom and Obor communities.
“We are not unaware that this is the handiwork of the PDP as this is happening few days to the governorship election. The PDP in ONELGA want to intimidate us; they (PDP) don’t want APC members to come out and vote on April 11,” Odiche stated.
But the State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, dismissed Odiche’s claim, maintaining that the APC was always politicising matters bordering on human lives and security.
“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.”
