How GDI Thugs Raided Our Community – APC Chieftain

Chairman, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Sam Amadi, CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke and Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, addressing newsmen on inter-agency collaboration on gas-power in Abuja, last Saturday.

An All Progressives Congress (APC)chieftain and leader in Ward 12, Rumuigbo in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Sir Igo Owhonda has blamed the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) and the People Democratic Party(PDP) for the mayhem that occurred in the community last week.
In an interview with newsmen at Rumuigbo, Sir Owhonda claimed that seven persons were severely wounded in the clash as GDI thugs opened fire on unsuspecting members of the community and some APC faithful.
Relating how the incident occurred, Sir Owhonda recalled that on that fateful day, while some APC members were fixing canopies and chairs ahead of the visit of Governor Chibuike Amaechi to the community last Wednesday, one Chief Billy Owhonda led over 50 thugs to the scene of the reception.
He recounted that the thugs, who were armed with guns and machetes and accompanied by three policemen, started pulling down the canopies, smashing vehicles, generating sets  and dispersing members of the APC who were waiting for the governor’s arrival.
His account was corroborated by another APC chieftain in the community, Mr Emmanuel Womanda, who described the attack as malicious and provocative, and a calculated attempt to eliminate supporters of the ruling party.
According to Womanda, “Chief Billy Owhonda and the GDI, PDP hoodlums boasted that APC must not welcome the Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon. Chibuike Amaechi to Rumuigbo and other parts of Obio/Akpor.”
The Ward Secretary, Mr Ovunda Ejike also stated that trouble started when APC members attempted to resist the political thugs from vandalising the equipment hired for the event.
Ejike said, “Before we knew it, the hoodlums had released gunshots which injured over seven persons, some of them are still lying critically ill in the Rumuigbo Model Health Centre, while others were rushed to an undisclosed hospital.”
He further stated that those injured include Ovunda Ezekiel, Henry Isaac, Akpenuchi Amaewhule, Ukechi Udeze, Stanley Omunakwe, Prince Chijioke, Chuku and several others.
One of the victims of the attack, Mr Isaac Henry told journalists that he was shot on the stomach and while attempting to escape, more bullets were shot at him making his condition critical.
Another victim, Mr Ukechi Udeze said he was shot on the head by the hoodlums but was later rushed to Island Hospital were doctors operated and removed the shrapnel from his skull.
Udeze spoke faintly and complained of consistent headache as he is still under intense medical care.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ekinigbo Clan Council, Rumuigbo, Mr Chinedum Amadi has expressed shock over the incident, and called on warring groups in the clan to sheath their swords and respect the rule of law.
Amadi hinted that the clan council is working on modalities to put a stop to political thuggery in Rumuigbo, and urged all politicians to be tolerant of each other activities.