The Rivers State Police Command Friday, dismissed claims by the state government that unknown gunmen fired at the campaign train of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi during his visit to Rumuolumeni community on a door to door campaign in Obio/Akpor local government area of the state.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, David Iyofor, had in a statement issued on Thursday, alleged that hoodlums attacked the Amaechi after he made the leave Rumueprikom community, after the final lap of his door-to-door campaign ahead of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
But, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ahmad Muhammad, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, said, rather, it was security agents attached to the governor’s convoy that fired gunshots into the air as he was about leaving the community.
“The Rivers State Police Command wishes to react to the news that went viral on both normal and social media quoting David Iyofor, Chief Press Secretary to Rivers State Governor to the effect that gun shots were fired at the convoy of his principal at Rumuolumeni, Obio/Akpor local government area”, Muhammad said.
“To put the records straight, after a successful and peaceful rally under the close watch of Policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer of the area, shots were indiscriminately fired from the convoy of the Governor for reasons best known to them, as against the wispy claim of David Iyofor. No shots were fired at the convoy of the Governor.
“The false alarm which is the usual penchant of the state government may not be unconnected with the bogus claim of assassination attempt by his principal that is to just whip up public sympathy.
“The Command urges politicians to refrain from whipping sentiments by toying with security issues to create needless public panic, where there is none, please”, he advised.
The Niche reports that propaganda hype, claims and counter claims of killings and violation of human rights that has characterized Rivers electioneering in the past one month has left residents in fear and journalists confused.
