Senator Abe Shot, Police Denies Shooting
SENATOR Magnus Abe was allegedly shot with a rubber bullet, Sunday, by the
Police at the Port Harcourt venue of a rally of Save Rivers Movement, a
pro-governor Chibuike Amaechi group. The Police however denied the
allegation.
The Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Mr Tony Okocha who
said he was with the Senator when the Police shot him at very close range
said they also fired teargas at them, adding that one of the canisters of
the teargas hit him (Chief of Staff) on his leg.
His words,:“This morning was a huge surprise to me. It's the turn of
Obio/Akpor local government to host the Save Rivers Movement, we had gone
to Eleme and also to Asari-Toru, today is the turn of Obio/Akpor local
government and as law abiding citizens of Nigeria we wrote to the police,
informing them of our programme an there was no negative response. We
chose College of Arts and Sciences because it's more expansive, it could
accommodate at least about 10,000 persons that will come out of Obio/Akpor
local government area today for Save Rivers Movement.
At about few minutes past 12, I received a call from someone; highly
placed, informing me that the Commissioner of Police had been reached by
the Supervision Minister for Education and … to dislodge our people today
and I couldn't place it. About 4:30am, our men on ground, who were left
there to secure the gadgets and facilities we have on ground there, called
me to say that the police had taken the place over. For God's sakes we are
defenceless, free citizens of Nigeria, we don't carry arms. Save Rivers
Movement is an organisation that insists that Rivers State must be saved,
out to salvage the state from political buccaneers who want to put Rivers
state into their pockets, that's what we are doing; we are in the business
of sensitizing our people from LGA to LGA. You are aware of a group called
GDI, they go through all the LGAs with convoys of police, giving them all
kinds of protection, including the commissioner of police, he's always in
the convoys, providing security for them and ensuring that what they do in
the LGAs are trouble-free.
Meanwhile, the Rivers Police Command on Sunday denied allegations that its
personnel shot and wounded a member of the National Assembly, Sen. Magnus
Abe.
Its spokesman, Ahmad Muhammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, (DSP),
told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that the police did
not dispense any bullet while dispersing a rally by Save Rivers Movement
on Sunday.
He said the group was at the state College of Arts and Science for the
rally when they were dispersed because they did not obtain a police
permit.
“I can confirm to you that Sen. Magnus Abe was not shot. The police did
not expend any single bullet while dispersing the crowd.
“It is not true. The police did not shoot the senator, we only used
minimum force to disperse the crowd at the venue of the rally,'' he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Rivers Government has
alleged that Abe was shot by the police at the venue of the rally.
Mrs Ibim Semenitari, the Commissioner for information and Communications,
made the accusation in a statement on Sunday in Port Harcourt.
“Today's attack on members of the Save Rivers Movement, a non governmental
association, at the College of Arts and Science, Rumuola, Port Harcourt,
Rivers State and especially the unprovoked shooting of Senator Magnus Ngei
Abe, the senator representing Rivers South East senatorial district, is
cause for worry and an indication of the length that the PDP is willing to
go to silence opposing views.
“Rivers State Government therefore reiterates its call for the
re-deployment of CP Mbu from Rivers State before he turns the state into a
graveyard because of his intolerance and unprofessional behaviour,'' she
said.
The commissioner assured that the state government would continue to
protect the interest of the people at all times.
“We appeal to our people to remain law abiding and not to take the laws
into their own hands as we promise to continue to use all legitimate and
legal means to guarantee the safety of our people and their rights to
exist in Nigeria,'' she said.
The Press Secretary to Sen. Abe, Mr Honour Sirawoo, said a rubber bullet
hit Abe on the chest and was taken to hospital for treatment.
He said Abe had gone to supervise the preparations for the rally when the
incident occurred at about 9.00 am on Sunday.
Dr Mckay Anyanwu, Medical Director of Krisany Hospital, where Abe was
rushed to for treatment, told newsmen that the senator was brought to the
hospital in a state of shock caused by low blood pressure.
“He was unable to talk or eat, and he was feeling restless as a result of
traumatic shock.
“The implication is that there is haemorrhage; this is a blood trauma, it
is not a sharp one,'' he said. (NAN)