Gunmen have again attacked the Rivers State secretariat of the Action Peoples Party located in the GRA axis of Port Harcourt on Wednesday, shooting a security guard.
The State APP chairman, Sunny Wokekoro, confirmed the incident to newsmen on Wednesday.
The incident came about a month after the secretariat suffered a dynamite attack which shattered doors, and windows and destroyed other property in the building.
Wokekoro while speaking to newsmen described the incident as ugly, adding that such a politically motivated incident in the state is one too many.
Wokekoro stated the injured guard was rushed to the Hospital where he is receiving treatment.
He said, “It’s with pain in our hearts that we invited you here this afternoon to brief you on the development that has affected our party once again, Action Peoples Party, Rivers State.
“You all recall that about a month ago, soon after our state party office was unveiled by our national chairman and his team, the same day, same night, the party secretariat was dynamited.
“We can authoritatively speak of the promptness of the commissioner of police in visiting the scene of the incident but regrettably, we cannot speak of the same concerning the outcome of the investigation regarding that incident, as we still await the report of that investigation.
“And last night, almost about the same the time the place was dynamited, we also got a call between the hours of 11:30 pm to 12 am, that there was a gunshot that affected one of our gatemen. As we speak now, he’s receiving treatment in the hospital.”
He added that the Divisional Police Officer of Abacha police station, who visited with his team, stated that efforts were made throughout the previous night to contact the police personnel stationed at the party secretariat to ensure the safety of the secretariat and all party members.
He said they will allow the police to investigate the matter and, as much as possible, nip it in the bud.
He added, “It’s not our desire that anyone should lose their lives becoming a member of our party. It’s not our desire that any citizen of Rivers State will lose his or her life because of politics.
“We only advise that all of us should play politics with fear of God in our hearts. There’s nothing that’s worth anyone’s life.
“It’s a very ugly incident and we do not think that it is wise or advisable for anybody to get to this level in politics.”
He, however, maintained that the incident will not deter members of the party, as they are poised to liberate the state.
“Be that as it may, what is happening and what has happened will not deter members of APP.
“As a matter of fact, the more they do this, the more we are resolved that we are doing the right thing, that we are prepared to liberate Rivers State from the draconian claws of any individual or group of individuals. We are determined that we are not scared in any form,” he said
Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, proved abortive as he did not answer calls put across to him as of the time of filing this report on Wednesday evening.
