NewsRescue
By Akanimo Sampson
RIVERS State, a rich oil and gas state in Southern Nigeria, is cycling back to her season of bloodletting. Fromm 2002, under the watch of Dr. Peter Odili, power politics in the state has been more of Rivers of blood than of issues.
Godfathers of the killing field appear to have returned murderous trade, and this is unsettling the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the governing party in the state.
The latest is the disturbing killings in Omoku, the volatile headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state, the area that is hosting the Italian oil major, Agip.
PDP State Chairman, Felix Obuah says the killings which continued throughout the weekend is condemnable and unacceptable.
While speaking to journalists in an emotion laden voice on Monday, in Port Harcourt, the state capital, described the resurgence of killings among his kinsmen as abominable and sheer madness.
He is wondering why all the entreaties by Governor Nyesom Wike, to the warring youths in Omoku during his visit to the area could be so flagrantly violated as though they gain anything from killing one another.
According to the PDP, ”the latest onslaught is one too many. The police should beef up security around the area and all parts of the state, and do all within their powers to fish out perpetrators of the heinous acts and bring them to book”.
While sympathising with victims of the attack, Obuah advised the police to step up their intelligence gathering in order to prevent further attacks and killings of Rivers people.
“My heart goes out to those that lost their lives and loved ones in this tragic event’’, he said, and accordingly urged politicians to join hands with Governor Wike to keep the state peaceful and secure from the hands of criminals, rather than trading blames and politicking with insecurity of any kind in the state.
A number of people however, lost their lives during the unfortunate weekend attack including one Isaac Ikechukwu Chinedu, PDP Chairman in Obite, Chinedu Saidey, Ward 9 PDP Assistant Secretary from Oboburu Community, Franklyn Nkukuru Obi, APC Ward 4 chairman, his wife and son.