Armed men suspected to be political thugs, on Friday, attacked the convoy of the South-South leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chibuike Amaechi, sparking a gun duel with security operatives along the Ubima–Omuanwa axis in Ikwerre Local Council of Rivers State.
The incident occurred as Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State and former Minister of Transportation, visited his hometown of Ubima to carry out his electronic registration as a member of the ADC.
Reports indicated that before the former governor arrived the community about 12:15 p.m. suspected thugs had mounted a roadblock along the route, turning back buses conveying ADC members who were heading to attend the visit.
The situation escalated when the armed men confronted Amaechi’s convoy as it attempted to enter the community.
Security operatives accompanying the former governor reportedly engaged the attackers in a gun duel, forcing them to retreat into nearby bushes after being overpowered by superior firepower.
The attack came barely hours after suspected thugs allegedly set ablaze the ward office of the ADC in Ubima on Thursday night.
The attackers were also said to have fired sporadically into the community and riddled the gate of Amaechi’s family house with bullets in an attempt to stop his planned visit.
Despite the tension, the former governor proceeded with his visit and completed his e-registration as a member of the party in the presence of hundreds of supporters who had gathered for the exercise.
After touring the burnt party office, Amaechi called for calm among party members, urging them not to resort to violence.
He commended the Commissioner of Police, the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for what he described as their swift response to the incident.
Amaechi, however, insisted that those responsible for the attacks must be prosecuted.
