PDP, APC Loyals Clash in Port Harcourt

The rising political tension between pro and anti Amaechi groups in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers state has resulted to a serious clash between the two factions with about two persons sustaining gunshot wounds at Rumuepirikom community on Wednesday.

Vehicular movement and other economic activities in the area were brought to a halt, following the crisis.

An eye witness who spoke to our reporter said. ‘Early this morning at about 6am we heard that some youths were rampaging to stop others beating the drums ,because they heard that the governor is coming to the community. Before we knew it, there was a crowd of youths from Rumuepirikom and the place was tensed.

“Probably the Eze of Rumuepirikom felt that they wanted to come and attack him, the next thing we heard was a gunshot. It came from the palace of the paramount ruler of Rumuepirikom, but unfortunately, his son was the casualty. He was hit by the bullet,” he said.

The injured son of the paramount ruler, Clement Owabie, while speaking from the hospital where he was rushed to for treatment alleged that his father, Eze Anthony Owabie shot him.

He said: “I was alone in my brother’s car which they have damaged, so I was trying to go away facing the road when my father just shot me from his building, I didn’t even know that he shot other people.

Govenro’s Amaechi’s planned visit to Rumuepirikom today as part of his tour of wards and local government areas was suspended due to some emergencies.

However, the president, Oganiru Obio/Akpor-nu I, Rebisi Anugbu Onuoha said the crisi that erupted in Rumuepirikom this morning may not be unconnected to the planned visit of the governor to the area. He also said the people of Rumuepirikom were not well briefed on the planned visit by the governor to the community.

“if governor is coming to this community, is he not supposed to tell the community Development Committee (CDC) chairman? Is he not supposed to tell the chiefs and elders? We are not aware that the governor is coming, what we are doing today is our annual event. On 13^th August every year, and next year we would also do it,” Onuoha said.