Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Following the gun battle between the military and militants in Yeghe, Gokana Local Government Area and Bori, the headquarters of Khana Local Government, the state-owned Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic in Bori, has been shut indefinitely.
The school authority took the precautionary measures following the heavy shooting between soldiers and militants suspected to be supporters of former militant leader, Solomon Ndigbara a.k.a. Osama bin Laden.
Perhaps the appeal by Governor Nyesom Wike to the people of Khana and Gokana local government areas may have persuaded those who fled their homes to return to Yeghe and Bori, the theatres of the gun duel.
Eyewitnesses further added that Yeghe and Bori became ghost towns after soldiers took over the areas regarded as the traditional headquarters of the Ogoni people.
Austin Sor, the Chairman of Gokana LGA who gave update on the situation in his council area said at least seven persons are now feared dead, arising from the raid on the home of Ndigbara on Monday night in Yeghe community.
A pregnant woman, from Yeghe, who was said to have fallen headlong when the shooting started, was one of the victims.
It was gathered that apart from the woman, some people also died in Zaakpo and Bori, headquarters of Khana local government.
Ndigbara, who spoke in Port Harcourt, through his media aide, Dum Nwine, accused the Federal Government of branding him a gun-runner to dent his image.
He accused Senator Magnus Abe and one Barry Mpigi of being masterminds of the attacks on him. Both have denied the allegation.
However, the 2 Brigade of Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, has denied being used by any individual.
Speaking with newsmen on the heels of the shooting in Yeghe and other areas, the Commander, 2 Brigade, Brigadier General Stevenson Olabanji, said he received reports of shooting in the community.
Olabanji stated: “Around 12 noon, we received reports of some (gun) firing in Yeghe community in Gokana. Immediately, I dispatched my commanding officer to go and see what was going on in that community.
“On reaching the house of Solomon Ndigbara, who had already been declared wanted by the 2 Brigade for gunrunning, some hoodlums fired at the commanding officer. After some gun battle between our forces and militants, they were chased out from the community.
“Actually, the incident was localised mainly in Yeghe community. But, somehow, we later learnt that the hoodlums went to Bori (in Khana council) and burnt down a particular house, I think it was the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign office.
“I’ve visited the destroyed house, and have established operations ongoing there and we are actually after those who committed that crime,” he explained.
Reacting to the alleged complicity regarding the rerun elections, the army commander replied: “It is not possible. I cannot understand why anybody should accuse the army of being used by any group for their own personal interest or whatever political interest. It’s a lie and it is propaganda from the pit of hell. Nobody is being used by anybody particularly in this Brigade and I can speak for Nigerian Army in this regard. Nobody will use the Nigerian Army or our personnel to further their own selfish interest. It is a lie and propaganda against the army,” he stressed.
The 2 Brigade commander further stated that none of their personnel was killed or wounded during the incident.
Meanwhile, Senator Abe, who was alleged to be behind the earlier attack in Yeghe, has expressed concern over the spate of insecurity and desperation of some politicians in the state.
He pointed out that it was sad that since 2015 general elections, none of the perpetrators indicted in the political killings in the state, has been prosecuted.
Senator Abe, denied calling for a state of emergency to be declared in Rivers State beacuse of increasing insecurity in the state.
“Let me state again for the records, that I am not aware, was not aware of any plan to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, neither have I ever publicly or privately advocated for a state of emergency in Rivers State as part of any plan to bring down Governor Wike’s government.
“I was not aware, nor am I in a position to authorize security operations against Osama bin Ladin or any other militant. And most important, I have never been informed of any security operations anywhere in Rivers state. I therefore have no prior knowledge of any operation.
“If these are the reasons why my life, my assets and those of other APC supporters in Bua Yeghe have come under attack by armed militants, it simply amounts to calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it,” he said.
Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori shut
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