‘Thugs’ attack residence of Atiku campaign chairman in Rivers

The Rivers government has asked security agencies to conduct a “high-level, discreet” investigation into an attack on the residence of Lee Maeba, chairman of the Atiku campaign team in the state.

Earlier on Thursday, thugs reportedly invaded the residence of Maeba in Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital.

Speaking with journalists while showing the damage done to his property, Maeba, a former senator, said from information received, the attackers were sent to kill him.

“I came into Port Harcourt to attend to my family and attend some events, and I got in here yesterday. This morning, there was some uneasy movement along this street and neighbours called my attention that they’ve seen a lot of strange faces, like a buildup of thugs along this street,” he said.

“I don’t do thuggery. So, I wondered what thugs would be doing on the street. I dismissed it. Then, at about nine o’clock, I wanted to go and see my mother-in-law.

“But before then, a young man called me with a number that I don’t know. He told me I had done him a favour but that I should be careful if I’m at home; that they have instruction from either government or some quarters to attack my house and attack me. I dismissed it as I have no problem with anybody.

“As I got to my mother-in-law’s house, my phone was ringing and my nephew picked and they said the house was under attack. They shot at the gate, and forced it open. They climbed the second gate and tied up the security man, took his phone and were shouting ‘where is he?’; ‘one bullet, we solve this Atiku problem’.

“My [elder] brother was standing there and they descended on him. The next thing was to shoot at these cars, and they used the butt of the gun to destroy these cars. They hit the front door but they could not access the house and they started retreating.

“My worry is that Atiku does not live here. I only work for Atiku. I am an Atiku supporter. But what has that got to do with attacking my house in a bid to kill me? This is democracy. I am a democrat. I don’t plan to harm anybody.

“I’ve called the police commissioner severally, he didn’t pick my call. I called the director of SSS, I called the IG, sent pictures of what happened here to everybody. Nobody has responded. I’ve only seen two policemen who said the CP said they should come and assess what happened here.”

Speaking on the development in a statement, Chris Finebone, Rivers commissioner for information, said the state expects security agencies to get to the bottom of the matter and fish out the perpetrators.

“The Rivers State Government has seen isolated reports suggesting that some persons are purportedly being physically molested for political reasons. Security agencies must exercise the highest level of diligence, discreetness and carefulness in their work to sift the wheat from the chaff in order to arrive at a credible conclusion,” the statement reads.

“It is not strange to find politicians staging high level melodrama to either cover up their tracks or muddle up the waters to achieve a preconceived narrative aimed at hoodwinking the public for political reasons especially at a time like this.

“Today, a report by former Senator Lee Maeba surfaced on social media that he got a call from a young man. And the caller purportedly, in his own words, said, “that they have instructions from either government or some quarters to attack my house.”

“This makes it obvious that Senator Maeba should help security agencies in unraveling the purported attack on his house and those behind it. It is not enough to blame such an attack on ‘either government or some quarters.’ He should try and remember exactly whom the caller said sent him (the caller).

“The Rivers State Government, working with security agencies, will continue to render all possible assistance for security agencies to ensure safety of life and property in Rivers State at all times.”

Meanwhile, the development comes amid crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), involving allies of Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, and Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate, over calls by the former for Iyorchia Ayu to step down as PDP national chairman.

Amid the crisis, Wike and his allies have excluded themselves from campaigning for Abubakar.