PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: The Rivers State House of Assembly faced a shocking event as an attempt on the life of the newly appointed Speaker, Rt. Hon. Edison Ogerenye Ehie, unfolded late Sunday night. Reports, disseminated to various media outlets by Ken Uchendu, Legislative Correspondent for the Assembly, detailed a harrowing encounter.
“At about 11 pm on Sunday, the 19th of November, 2023, a group of armed thugs and rogue police officers, led by SP. Irikefe London Owen and CSP Salihu Masalachi, launched an assault on the private residence of Speaker Rt. Hon. Barr. Edison Ogerenye Ehie, DSSRS, armed with the intention to assassinate the Speaker and his family,” the statement revealed.
Despite the assailants’ intentions, the Speaker’s official security detail fiercely repelled the attackers in a heated exchange of gunfire, as per the statement. Crucially, CCTV footage from the residence captured the entire event, with plans to share it with national and international media outlets, including CNN and Al Jazeera, for documentation.
The Speaker is scheduled to address a World Press Conference on Monday, the 20th of November, 2023. The statement, excerpted from the circulated document, expressed a strong stance against the violence, calling for public action and unity: “Rivers people, irrespective of age or gender, are prepared to protest, even in a state of undress if necessary, against the Nigerian Police and those supporting violence in Rivers State.”
Conclusively, it was emphasized that any potential breakdown of law and order in Rivers State would hold the named officers, the Rivers State Police Command, and their backers accountable, as conveyed by the statement: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should hold the above-named Officers, the Rivers State Police Command and their sponsors in Rivers State responsible.”
Reported by Ken Uchendu, Legislative Correspondent Rivers State House of Assembly
