Nigeria: Death Scare Rocks Rivers

Nigeria: Death Scare Rocks Rivers, As Insecurity Deepens

By Akanimo Sampson,
Bureau Chief,
Port Harcourt

PROSPECTS for enduring peace in Rivers State, easily the capital of Nigeria's oil and gas industry, are currently not appearing very positive in spite of efforts by the state government to smash the rampaging terrorist cells through the instrumentality of their Peace and Rehabilitation agency.

Besides worrisome gun shots in the city centres on almost daily basis, and a seeming organised armed up-rising against perceived political and business opponents, there are growing allegations of an existing ''hit squad'' said to be detailed to knock sdome sense into some unco-operating political leaders in the state.

Supporters of the fighting former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rotimi Amaechi, are claiming that their political mentor left the state for fear of being assassinated. Although there are no official comments from the government, it is being alleged that there were attempts to smoke life out of the former speaker.

Amaechi, is locked in a legal battle with Celestine Omehia, over the governorship of the state. The Action Congress (AC) is similarly tackling the governor at the election tribunal, claiming that he emerged as the number citizen of the state through unfair practices during the April 14, polls.

While the Amaechi suit at the Appeal Court level in Abuja, has been a jig-saw puzzle of sorts, many politicians in the state have started to cry out that their lives are in danger. This development appears to be over stretching the state command of the Nigeria Police that is locked in conflict with the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) over alleged grave human rights abuses.

In the mean time, Osima Ginah, a lawyer, said he has since brought to the notice of the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command and the Director of State Security Services ( SSS), Rivers State that on the July 19, 2007 by 3pm while attending to some official matters in his law firm in Port Harcourt, that he got a call from one Rtd. Col. Jumbo with GSM number ( 070-34000381) who inquired if he was Ginah.

''When I answered in the affirmative he then said thus 'Tell that your small boy Tonye (Princewill, the AC governorship candidate) that Rivers State is not London where he speaks big-big grammar and that not matter his lofty policies and programmes, he can not govern Rivers State as God has already destined Omehia to rule the State and also tell that your good-for-nothing, face-less, mouthy and noise-making Media Consultant to go and look for something better to be doing and for you Ginah, better withdraw your services from Tonye and advise him to withdraw his petition against Omehia immediately or else all of you in his Team will be wiped out from the surface of the earth'.

''After these statements he hanged-up on me and when I tried to call him back; he refused to pick my calls. Later, I reported this issue to my Principal Engr Tonye Princewill who I am one of his counsels representing him in the petition he filed over his gubernatorial ambition in Rivers State before the Election Tribunal currently sitting in the State'', Ginah said.

Considering the current insecurity in the state and numerous unresolved assassinations, Princwill has accordingly directed that a report in this regard be made to the police and SSS big wigs for further follow-up as the threat to wipe-out all the key officers of his campaign team in the state for a possible follow up.

''Our pursuit is legal and in line with democratic demands and should anything happens to any of the Team that will be another negative report tantamount to portraying our State in very bad light before the international community. Any assistance to accost this Rtd Col. Jumbo and probably provide security for some of our key members will be highly appreciated'', the AC leaders said in a formal presentation to the security agencies.

ENDS

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