Armed individuals believed to be police officers and suspected political thugs breached the home of Edison Ehie, the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, in Port Harcourt on Sunday night.
Edison Ehie, who had recently declared himself Speaker amid legislative turmoil, faced suspension by 24 lawmakers. The invasion, details of which remain unclear, occurred while Ehie’s security team reportedly thwarted what is suspected to be an assassination attempt.
This incident unfolded as 27 lawmakers, led by House Speaker Martin Amaewhule, were away in Abuja for what was described as a retreat focused on capacity building.
The spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, is yet to confirm the incident, promising to provide updates. Meanwhile, a statement, attributed to Legislative Correspondent Ken Uchendu, described the attack as an assassination attempt allegedly orchestrated by the head of a police tactical unit in the state, among others.
The statement warned that senior police officers would be held accountable for any harm to the new Speaker or his household. It further assured the public that CCTV footage capturing the incident would be made available to the media for confirmation and record-keeping.
Rivers State residents, as per the statement, expressed readiness to protest against any violence, holding the Rivers State Police Command and their alleged sponsors responsible for any breakdown of law and order.
As the situation unfolds, concerns mount over the safety and stability of Rivers State, with a call for urgent attention from authorities at both state and national levels.
