Police probe Wike, Amaechi bloody clash
Police Chief Ibrahim Idris has ordered a probe into theĀ Saturday clash between security detail of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and those of Minister of Transportation Chibuile Amaechi in Port Harcourt.
Although nobody died during the clash, many were injured and the rifle of a policeman was snatched at the Trans-Amadi Layout.
Both Wike and Amaechi, who are former allies, claim thay escaped assassination.
Rivers Police Command spokesman Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed that a probe had been launched into the incident and the involvement of policemen.Ā Ā He did not give details.
The state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC)Ā called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Wikeās Chief Security Officer (CSO), Promise Wosu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), and other security personnel who were involved inĀ the bloody clash.
In a statement by its Chairman Chief Davies Ikanya, made available by his media adviser Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the APC said: āReports made available to us by Prince Tonye Princewill, an associate to Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who was in the same car with the Minister of Transportation, indicated that Wikeās dispatch rider pulled a pistol to assassinate Amaechi, but missed his target, after which Amaechiās Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Mr. Seimeikumo Debewari, intervened to save the minister from further assassination attempt.
āPrince Princewill stated that he was at a loss if the attack was not an assassination attempt on the Transportation Minister, somebody should explain to him in a clearer sentence why Wikeās despatch rider failed to stop the two security vehicles of the minister, which had already crossed, but decided for whatever reasons, to block the vehicle in which the minister was driving.
āPrince Princewill also asked why the attempt by Amaechi, who was driving the car, to navigate his vehicle out of danger was prevented by two security men from Rivers governorās convoy, who pulled their pistols to shoot him, but when Wikeās security men realised that the vehicle that the minister was driving was bullet-proofed, they resorted to hitting the jeep with the butts of their guns and in the process broke the right driving mirror and attempted to break Amaechiās windscreen.
āAfter the failed attempt to kill the Transportation Minister, his escort team was physically assaulted by Wikeās CSO and Rivers governor, with the operatives of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) on the ministerās convoy dislodged and forcibly dispossessed of one of their AK-47 rifles.ā
Rivers APC also stated that the dangerous trend, if not nipped in the bud, might jeopardise the peace pervading the Niger Delta.
It reiterated that Wikeās main desire was to truncate Nigeriaās hard-earned democracy, after the failed plot by the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to win the 2015 presidential election, stressing that the Rivers governorās disdain for President Muhammadu Buhari, APC and Amaechi was legendary.
The opposition party said: āWike recently exhibited hatred for Buhariās administration during his misguided lecture at Chatham House, London, where he disparaged the Federal Government, demarketed and rubbished all the efforts of the APC-led Federal Government to right most of the wrongs of the past PDP government in a foreign land.
āWike should not be allowed to turn Rivers State into a theatre of unwarranted war, only obtainable during the Sir Celestine Omehiaās era, when Port Harcourt was rated as the riskiest place in the world.ā
Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications Emma Okah described as wishful thinking, the call for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Governor Wikeās Chief Security Officer (CSO). Promise Wosu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), and other security personnel.
Okah, said: āThe call for the arrest and prosecution of Wikeās CSO lacks merit, it is mere wishful thinking and it should be disregarded.
āIf APC chairman is calling for arrest and prosecution of Wikeās CSO, what do we do to the policemen that attacked the Rivers governorās escort rider? Do we also call for their arrest and prosecution?ā
Okah also stated that there should be no double standard in order to ensure justice.