Gunmen kill 2 PDP chieftains in Rivers

• Another kidnapped

From Tony John, Port Harcourt

GUNMEN have killed four persons, includ­ing two stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in three different attacks in Ogale, Bomu and Elele communities of Eleme, Gokana and Ikw­erre local government ar­eas of Rivers State.

Daily Sun gathered that the two PDP chieftains, Lekia Nzeregbara, and Fred Teedom, were shot dead by the unknown gunmen at the weekend, at Ogale community and Bomu town, in Eleme and Gokana Local Govern­ment Areas of the state respectively.

Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Gokana Local Government Area, Austin Sor, who spoke to newsmen yesterday, con­demned the killings.

He called on security agencies to carry out in­vestigation into the das­tardly acts.

He said: “One of the par­ty stalwarts, a stakeholder, Mr. Lekia Nzeregara was gunned down at Ogale in Eleme local government area. His death is one too many to mention. We to­tally condemn that. Shortly after that, at about 6:30 or 7:00pm, one of the youth leaders, Mr. Fred Tee­dom, who happened to be the youth leader of Bomu and vice chairman of Ward 8, Gokana Local Govern­ment Area, was also shot dead.

“I know that, like I was told that those that shot him are these cult boys from that community. We also want the Nigerian Police and other security agencies to do their inves­tigation and ensure that the culprits are brought to book”.

Similarly, unknown gunmen killed two persons and abducted one after they attacked a compound in Elele community, home­town at about 8pm, Satur­day night.

It was further gathered that the armed men shot sporadically, scarring resi­dents away before carrying out the nefarious act.

A source, who con­firmed the incident stated that the assailants dressed in black wears, and oper­ated in a tinted car.

As at the time of filing the report, the source, who preferred not to be named, said further that the gun­men were yet to contact the family, adding that the whereabouts of the victim remained unknown.

He narrated: “Some gun­men, who were dressed in black invaded my com­pound in Eleme com­munity last night around 8pm and shot sporadically. They came in a tinted vehi­cle and they were dressed in black. They killed two persons and kidnapped an­other one.

“I don’t know why, but you are aware of what is going on in Rivers State currently”, he said.

The incident was con­firmed by a senior police officer attached to Elele Divisional Headquarters.

He said police were making efforts to track down the perpetrators of the act.

But, the state police command was yet to con­firm the killings.