Suspected PDP thugs bomb APC campaign venue in Patience Jonathan’s town

Suspected PDP thugs bomb APC campaign venue in Patience Jonathan’s town

Venue of the governorship campaign rally of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) at the National Field,
Okrika, Rivers State was, on Saturday, bombed by
suspected thugs working for the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP).

First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, hails from
Okrika. She has been having a running battle with
Governor Rotimi Amaechi and is strongly supporting
the PDP candidate, Nyesom Wike, against the APC
candidate, Dakuku Peterside.

The venue was bombed about 4:30am.

Freedom Online learnt that an explosive device
suspected to be dynamite was used by the suspected
PDP thugs. After the bombing, the thugs started
shooting for about 20 minutes. The shooting was so
deafening and frightening that residents in the area
could not come out to watch.

It was after the exit of the hoodlums that policemen
stormed the scene. Residents were seen in the early
morning discussing the attack. Policemen later told
some APC chiefs planning for the rally to shelve the
idea because the rally had been cancelled due to the
attack.

The state Police Commissioner, Dan Bature,
confirmed the development in a statement.

It reads: “The Rivers State Police Command wishes to
confirm that on 24/01/2015 at about 0430hrs, at
National Field, Okrika, the supposed APC rally arena
was attacked with an explosive device suspected to
be dynamite by unidentified assailants. Podium and
public address system were damaged. No lost of life.

Area is now under police control while Police Bomb
Disposal unit has commenced discreet investigation.

“The incident has heightened tensions and from our
assessment has the capability of degenerating to a
situation where the protection of life and property
will be threatened. Consequently, the Command has
advised All Progressives Congress (APC) to
reschedule the rally to another date.

“While Command is determined to discharge its
constitutional mandate of protection of life and
property, all political parties are hereby warned to
adhere strictly to the Code of Conduct guiding
political activities in the state, respect of law and
order and eschew violence in all its ramifications
before, during and after 2015 general elections. “The
Command also is determined to enforce law and
order, provide adequate security for all political
parties and ensure that the full wrath of law is
visited on any person(s) who dare and wish to test
our capability, please”.

APC Chairman in Okrika Local Government, Mr
Christian Asifamaka, said the armed youths attacked
officials setting up the venue of the rally.

“Those setting up the sound system and the podium
were forced to flee for their lives when the thugs
started shooting explosives into the arena. They
destroyed the podium, sound equipment and some
canopies,’’ Asifamaka said.