On Sunday night, armed men, suspected to be police officers and political thugs, invaded the residence of the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Edison Ehie, in Port Harcourt.
News About Nigeria understands that the invasion is suspected to be linked to the ongoing crisis within the state legislature.
Edison Ehie, formerly the Leader of the State House of Assembly, had declared himself Speaker amid a legislative crisis, with 24 lawmakers having previously suspended him and two other members of the house.
The details of the attack on Ehie’s residence remain unclear, and it is yet to be confirmed whether there were any casualties or damages during the invasion.
However, it was reported that Ehie’s security details successfully thwarted the attack, believed to be an assassination attempt.
This incident occurred while 27 lawmakers, led by House Speaker Martin Amaewhule, were in Abuja for a retreat described as capacity building.
The spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, stated that she was yet to receive the report but promised to provide information once available. As of the filing of this report, there has been no update from the police.
A statement attributed to Ken Uchendu, a Legislative Correspondent of the State House of Assembly, and sent to the media, labelled the attack as an assassination attempt.
The statement alleged that the assault was orchestrated by the head of a police tactical unit in the state, along with unidentified others.
It warned that senior police officers would be held responsible if any harm befell the new Speaker and his household.
The statement also pledged to make available CCTV footage capturing the incident for public confirmation and record purposes.
It concluded with a strong warning that the people of Rivers State would vehemently resist any attempt to sponsor violence in the state, holding the Rivers State Police Command and their sponsors accountable in the event of a breakdown of law and order.
“Let it be on record that Rivers people, boys, girls, women, men including the aged shall in our numbers occupy the streets 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 Tinubu should hold the Rivers State Police Command and their sponsors in Rivers State responsible,” the statement read in part.
