Politics
Rivers rerun on shaky start as Commissioner, APC chief kidnapped
The Rivers rerun elections may have started on the wrong footing as a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Elyon Ntiro Elijah and the state’s Commissioner for Water Resources, Chief Ibibia Walter, have been reportedly kidnapped by unknown gunmen, hours to the elections.
Elijah, a former leader of Andoni Local Government legislative Assembly, was allegedly kidnapped at Asarama Waterside in Andoni Local Government area of the state late last night while the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, disclosed the abduction of Walter via its Twitter handle, @pdpnigeria.
Rivers State has witnessed renewed violence as the electorate prepare to pick their representatives at both the national and state levels.
Also, fresh gun battle erupted last night between security agents and suspected hooligans with a Department of State Services (DSS) official feared dead in the confrontation at Egi in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
Read also: PDP accuses APC of plotting to impose state of emergency in Rivers State
It was gathered that a team of security operatives was intercepted during a patrol at Egi last night by suspected hoodlums who allegedly opened fire, provoking a response from the security agents.
The DSS official was hit in the clash and died immediately.
Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of the 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Capt. Eli Lazarus who confirmed the incidence, said: “A joint security team, consisting of the army, police and DSS (Department of State Services), while conducting patrol today (yesterday) at Egi was attacked by unknown gunmen.
“The criminals engaged the security team for several hours before they were eventually dislodged. Sadly, a security agent lost his life in the unfortunate incident.
“Reinforcement has been sent to beef up security in the area and normalcy has been restored”, he said.
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