IG Orders Probe Into Okrika Shootings …As Bipi Denies Involvement

The Inspector General of
Police, Suleiman Abba, has ordered a full scale investigation into the Tuesday disruption of the governorship campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Okrika, Rivers State, by unknown gunmen.
The shooting incident which the APC has traced to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elements in the state, left a policeman dead, while about 50 others sustained various degrees of injuires.
The Tuesday campaign rally at Okrika was the fourth attempt by the APC after three aborted attempts to take the party’s campaign train to the town, which is the country home of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, and former  warlord, Chief Ateke Tom.
Following this incident, Abba, in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, on Wednesday in Abuja, directed the Assistant Inspector General of  police in charge of zone 6, Calabar, Tunde Ogunshakin, to take over the investigation and promptly bring to book the perpetrators and sponsors of the shooting incident.
The IG further directed a speedy prosecution of suspects arrested in connection with violence across the country.
He regretted that despite several warnings, advice and interfaces with political actors to avoid violence and other acts capable of undermining the electoral process, such acts have continued.
Abba, however, restated the resolve and commitment of the Nigeria Police force, in line with its constitutional and statutory mandate, to continue to provide an impartial level-playing field for all political parties to sell their manifestoes and woo the electorate.
Meanwhile, a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, representing  Ogu/Bolo, Mr Evans Bipi, has denied involvement in the Okrika shootings.
Bipi was accused by the APC governorship candidate in the state, Dr Dakuku Peterside, of leading the shooting attacks.
But the lawmaker who is a member of the PDP in the state, said he was in Bayelsa State on the day of the incident, mourning the PDP women who perished in a motor accident last Saturday along Ahoada/Elele  section of the East-West Road in Rivers State on their return to Bayelsa State after seeing the first lady off  to Port Harcourt  International Airport, Omagwa.
Contrary to allegations that he was sighted leading the shortings on APC members at the APC campaign rally on Tuesday, Bipi in a statement on Wednesday said, “I was not in Okrika on Tuesday. Okrika is not even my constituency. I represent Ogu/Bolo in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He insisted that “the statement credited to Peterside, with Governor Rotimi Amaechi, accusing me of leading gunmen to attack their rally in Okrika, is most unfortunate. Above all, it is the height of irresponsibility on their part and the APC”.

Boye Salau