The ongoing local government elections in Rivers State have descended into chaos, with heavy gunfire erupting in the Rumuepirikom community, hometown of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike.
9News Nigeria reports that Wike, a former governor of the state, is at odds with the present governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who, against the odds, has gone ahead with conducting the grassroots elections.
Eyewitnesses report that unidentified individuals stormed the area, warning residents to stay indoors. As electoral officers arrived at the ward in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, armed men, suspected to be political thugs, launched a violent attack.
At least one person has been rushed to a hospital after sustaining a bullet injury.
Recall that hoodlums suspected to be loyal to Wike attacked 9News Nigeria Reporters covering the election in Rivers State.
Our correspondent, Emmanuel Atseyinku and his driver were brutally attacked around 1:30pm and their Camera demaged by the thugs said to be loyal to Wike while covering the ongoing Rivers State Local Government Election.
Speaking with 9News Nigeria South East Editor, Wisdom Nwedene on phone, Mr Atseyinku said the thugs attacked them just few poles from Igwuruta Divisional Police Station in Igwuruta, Ikwerre Local Government area of Rivers State.
According to him, “we are running for our safety right now. They just attacked us with our Camera completely damaged and some of our gadgets stolen by them”.
“We need help please because our lives are no longer secured”, he said as his phone switched off immediately and couldn’t be reached again.
Efforts by 9News Nigeria to speak with Rivers Police Command proved abortive as at the time of filing this report.
