Gunmen Attack Amaechi’s Convoy in Rivers

Former Nigerian transport minister Rotimi Amaechi on Friday called on security agencies to arrest those responsible for attacking his convoy and burning a party office in his hometown in southern Rivers State.

Gunmen attacked Amaechi’s convoy along the road between Ubima and Omuanwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area as the former governor travelled to the community for his electronic registration as a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Suspected thugs had earlier set ablaze the ADC ward office in Ubima on Thursday night, residents said.

Witnesses said armed men mounted a roadblock before Amaechi’s arrival on Friday, turning back buses conveying party supporters heading to the event.

The attackers reportedly opened fire in the community and shot at the gate of Amaechi’s family house before his convoy arrived.

Security operatives accompanying the former minister later confronted the gunmen after they stopped his convoy, forcing the attackers to flee into nearby bushes, according to witnesses.

Addressing supporters who gathered for the registration exercise, Amaechi urged calm and said security agencies must identify and prosecute those behind the violence.

“I will thank the commissioner of police and the director of DSS. They showed a lot of professionalism immediately I made contact with them,” he said.

Amaechi said officers from the police, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps responded swiftly to the incident.

“But they must also know that this cannot continue,” he added. “They must prosecute those who are involved in this crime.”

The former minister also urged the Rivers state government to strengthen security to prevent further unrest.

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Police in the state said they were gathering details about the incident.

The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she would obtain more information and respond later.