From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Police Command has not officially reacted to the alleged shooting on Tuesday, in Opobo, Headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of the state, at the purported venue for the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally.
When Daily Sun contacted a senior officer of the command, the Police personnel said the command was on top of the matter.
According to the police source, the command had wanted to get details before it would issue an official statement in that regard.
Meanwhile, spokesman, Rivers APC 2023 Campaign Council, Sogbeye Eli, had issued a statement alleging that political thugs armed with dangerous weapons shot sporadically, thereby, disrupting planned party campaign rally in the area.
According to Eli, the attackers, who blocked major the only access road, trailed the APC governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, before the staccato eruption of gunshots.
He stated: “The spate of attacks on the campaign trail of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Rivers State, Arc. Tonye Cole, Mni, took a more dangerous turn today at Opobo, Headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area.
“The attack had thugs block both ends of the only access road after the convoy of Tonye Cole had arrived at the King Jaja Square.
“Sporadic gunfire accompanied by hauling of bottles and other dangerous projectiles at party members massed on the Square stopped the APC governorship candidate from proceeding to the venue designated for the rally near St. Paul’s Church.
“Standing in front of the King’s Palace with the APC State Chairman, Chief Emeka Beke, and the 2015 governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Cole had to call off the rally in a brief address after hundreds of APC members received various degrees of injuries and vehicles were damaged by thugs during the attack. Cole had earlier been received in audience by the Nkoro Council of Chiefs at the community’s Town Hall en route Opobo Town.”
The campaign council spokesman said the party had reported the attack on the rally grounds where canopies and electronic equipment were vandalized.
Opobo is the hometown of Siminalayi Fubara, the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 general elections.
According to Eli, a team of Police officers led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, witnessed the alleged mayhem.