Armed males alleged to be cops and suspected political thugs on Sunday night time invaded the residence of the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Edison Ehie, in Port Harcourt.
The PUNCH studies that Ehie, who was the Leader of the State House of Assembly, had introduced himself because the Speaker within the wake of the disaster that rocked the state legislature.
About 24 lawmakers had suspended Ehie as House chief, alongside two different members of the home.
Ehie, after asserting himself because the Speaker final month informed newsmen that 26 lawmakers unanimously elected him whilst he introduced the suspension of a few of his colleagues.
Details of the assault on Ehie’s residence are sketchy because it couldn’t be ascertained if any injury or casualty was recorded in the course of the invasion.
It was, nevertheless, gathered that his safety particulars foiled the assault suspected to be an assassination try.
This got here after 27 lawmakers led by House Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, went to Abuja for a retreat, which the latter described as capability constructing.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, stated she was but to get the report.
She, nevertheless, promised to search out out and get again to our correspondent.
She had but to take action as of the time of submitting this report on Monday morning
Meanwhile, a press release signed by Ken Uchendu stated to be Legislative Correspondent of the State House of Assembly and despatched to newsmen described the assault as an assassination try.
The assertion alleged that the tried assassination was carried out by the pinnacle of a police tactical unit within the state, with unidentifiable others.
It warned that the senior cops be held accountable ought to something occur to the brand new Speaker and his family.
It assured the general public that footage of the act as captured by CCTV digital camera could be made public for affirmation and document functions.
The assertion learn, “At about 11 pm on Sunday, November 19, 2023, a gaggle of armed thugs and cops connected to the CTU B 3 RSV attacked the personal residence of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Edison Ehie, totally armed with an intention to assassinate Mr. Speaker and his household.
“However, the thugs and the cops have been vehemently repelled in a gun battle by the official safety particulars connected to the Speaker.
“It is crucial to notice that the armed rogues and officers have been correctly and totally captured by CCTV footage within the residence, which shall be made out there to all media homes, together with CNN, Aljazeera and different nationwide and worldwide media retailers for the data.
“Let it’s on document that Rivers individuals, boys, ladies, girls, males together with the aged shall in our numbers occupy the streets bare in demonstration in opposition to the Nigerian Police and people sponsoring violence in Rivers State, irrespective of how extremely positioned, Rivers individuals will resist them.
“Finally, should there be a breakdown of law and order in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu should hold the Rivers State Police Command and their sponsors in Rivers State responsible.”