Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi was trapped yesterday in Rumuolumeni area of Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area of the state as suspected political thugs fired live bullets at his convoy.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Dave Iyofor, who confirmed the attack, said that the thugs allegedly from an opposition party first pelted the governor’s convoy with stones and other objects before they started firing gunshots at him.

Iyofor said that two members of the APC sustained injuries.

“Gunshots were fired at Governor Amaechi this evening (yesterday) at Rumuolumeni in Obio Akpor council by suspected Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, thugs. Obio Akpor is the council of PDP Rivers governorship candidate, Mr Nyesom Wike. The thugs attacked the governor and his entourage with bottles, stones and various dangerous objects.

“Then gunshots were fired at the governor. For now two APC supporters are confirmed injured. When the governor was leaving the community, bonfire was set up on the road to prevent him from leaving. More gunshots were fired at his convoy. Amaechi was on door to door ward campaign in the state,” Iyofor said.

At press time, the Police were yet to respond to a text mesage from Vanguard for comments on the incident.

It was gathered that members of the APC and the PDP allegedly hurled stones and other objects at each other for several hours.

Some residents who spoke to Vanguard feared that the situation might escalate between members of the two parties at night if not checked.

“I heard somebody on phone saying there would be war later tonight today (yesterday). We are relocating from the area this night to a safer place,” the source said.

It would be recalled that Governor Amaechi, had on Wednesday, alleged that a conspiracy was under way to assassinate him on the day of the presidential election. The plot, according to him, was hatched at the highest level of the executive branch of the Federal Government.

He alleged that the plot to be executed by men of the Department of State Services, DSS with backing of soldiers from the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, was leaked to him by a party in the plot. The governor said that as part of the plot, a reconnaissance was carried out in his village, Ubima, on Wednesday.

The governor, who claimed that security around him had been significantly depleted to pave way for the attack on him, vowed not to leave the country as family members and friends who have knowledge of the plot had sought to prevail on him.

•Adapted from Vanguard. Photo shows Amaechi.

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