By; Sunday Ode, Abuja.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) on Wednesday alleged that Rivers State had become a landmine on the account of what it described as politically motivated killings targeted at members of the ruling party in the build up to the National and State Assembly re-run elections billed for March 16th.
A statement signed by the Acting National Chairman of the Party, Engr Segun Oni, further alleged that members of the ruling APC had become endangered species in Rivers State as they were being killed on daily basis.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) draws the attention of security agencies and other relevant bodies to the latest string of gruesome politically-motivated killings targeted at APC members in Rivers State in the build-up to the March 19, 2016 Rivers State re-run elections into the National Assembly and State House of Assembly.
“Rivers State has been transformed into a killing field, with APC members being murdered on a daily basis. APC members in Rivers state are fast becoming endangered species.
“On Saturday night March 5, 2016, masked gunmen first shot dead Franklin Obi, the APC ward Chairman in Omoku, headquarters of Ogab/Egbema/Ndoni council and then beheaded him.
“The gunmen went ahead and killed his wife and 18-year-old son, Bestman.
“The APC NWC also received reports that four APC members were recently killed in Obibi, Etche Local Government Areas in Rivers State. Gabriel Cookey was clubbed to death in Opobo, Opobo/Nkoro councils. In the last two weeks, over 30 APC members have been killed in different parts of the state.
“On Monday, March 7, 2016 Ofinjite Amachree, an APC stalwart in Buguma, Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State was beaten up and thereafter, set ablaze in continuation of the latest string of politically-motivated killings targeted at APC members in Rivers State,” according to Oni in the statement..
The statement also said that “On February 3, 2016, the APC National Secretariat drew the attention of security agencies and other relevant bodies to dangerous threats by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike in the lead-up to the March 19, 2016 Rivers State rerun elections.
“The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike in a brazen show of force told officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prepare their will before coming to conduct the elections in Rivers state.
“The APC National Secretariat also reported threats issued by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike to civil servants in the state to either support and work for the People Democratic Party (PDP) or face sack.
“The plot also includes intimidation of eligible voters, INEC officials and security operatives deployed to ensure peaceful, free and credible rerun elections in Rivers state.
“The APC NWC believes that the threats are already being carried out. The Police and other security agencies must ensure that the murderers and their sponsors are brought to book and must face the full wrath of the law.”
The state therefore noted that “the security situation in Rivers state is clearly an affront on the Federal Government’s power to protect life and property within its territory.”
It added; “the APC NWC calls on the Police and other security agencies to as a matter of urgency, rise up to stem the tide of politically-motivated killings and other forms of violence in Rivers State.
“The politically-motivated killing in Rivers State is a real emergency that should not be treated with kid gloves. The situation is distressing, tragic and a huge source of worry to the party.The APC NWC hereby calls on security agencies to be on high alert over the dangerous threats and actions by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and by extension the PDP in the lead-up to the Rivers re-run election.
“The APC will no longer fold its arms and watch our party members and supporters murdered daily in cold blood.”
