Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on Friday called on security agencies to identify and arrest those responsible for attacking his convoy and setting fire to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) office in Ubima community, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The attack occurred as Amaechi visited his hometown for his e-registration as a member of the ADC. Gunmen reportedly mounted a roadblock on the Ubima–Omuanwa road before his arrival at about 12:15 p.m., turning back buses carrying ADC members attending the exercise.
According to reports, the assailants had set ablaze the ward office of the ADC in Ubima the previous night. During the Friday attack, the gunmen fired sporadically into the community and riddled the gate of Amaechi’s family home with bullets.
However, security operatives accompanying Amaechi engaged the attackers, who fled into nearby bushes after the operatives displayed superior firepower.
Addressing hundreds of party members and supporters, Amaechi called for calm and commended the Commissioner of Police, the Director of the Department of State Services, and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for their swift intervention.
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He described their response as professional and urged members of the party not to resort to violence, stressing that it was the responsibility of the police to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators.
Amaechi also called on the Rivers State Governor to ensure adequate security across the state to prevent further attacks and encouraged party members to mobilise for the ADC’s ultimate goal of winning the presidency.
“We can no longer keep quiet. ADC Rivers State, you must register en masse. On election day, they will know whether we will vote or not,” he said.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she would obtain details of the incident and revert to the correspondent. She had not provided an update as of Friday afternoon.