Apc Members Are Becoming Endangered Species In Rivers – Party’s Nwc

SAN FRANCISCO, March 09, (THEWILL) – The National Working Committee, NWC, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has bemoaned the latest string of gruesome politically-motivated killings targeted at its members in Rivers State, asserting that “APC members in Rivers state are fast becoming endangered species”.

It stressed that Rivers State has been transformed into a killing field, with APC members being murdered on a daily basis in the build up to the March 19 rerun elections into the National Assembly and State House of Assembly in Rivers State.

The national headquarters of the APC drew the attention of security agencies to this development in a statement signed on Wednesday by the party's Acting National Chairman, Engr. Segun Oni.

While accusing the state governor, Nyesom Wike, of issuing dangerous threats in recent times, the APC National Working Committee claimed that the threats are already being carried out and charged the Police and other security agencies to ensure that the murderers and their sponsors are brought to book and must face the full wrath of the law.

Oni, who described the security situation in Rivers state as an affront on the ability of the Federal Government to protect life and property within its territory, threatened that his party will no longer fold its arms and watch its party members and supporters murdered daily in cold blood.

The statement reads in part, “On Saturday night March 5, 2016, masked gunmen first shot dead Franklin Obi, the APC ward chairman in Omoku, headquarters of Ogab/Egbema/Ndoni council and then beheaded him. The gunmen went ahead and killed his wife and 18-year-old son, Bestman.

“The APC NWC also received reports that four APC members were recently killed in Obibi, Etche Local Government Areas in Rivers State. Gabriel Cookey was clubbed to death in Opobo, Opobo/Nkoro councils. In the last two weeks, over 30 APC members have been killed in different parts of the state.

“On Monday, March 7, 2016 Ofinjite Amachree, an APC stalwart in Buguma, Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State was beaten up and thereafter, set ablaze in continuation of the latest string of politically-motivated killings targeted at APC members in Rivers State.

“On February 3, 2016, the APC National Secretariat drew the attention of security agencies and other relevant bodies to dangerous threats by the Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike in the lead-up to the March 19, 2016 Rivers State rerun elections.

“The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike in a brazen show of force told officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prepare their will before coming to conduct the elections in Rivers state.

“The APC National Secretariat also reported threats issued by the Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike to civil servants in the state to either support and work for the People Democratic Party (PDP) or face sack. The plot also include intimidation of eligible voters, INEC officials and security operatives deployed to ensure peaceful, free and credible rerun elections in Rivers state.

“The APC NWC believes that the threats are already being carried out. The Police and other security agencies must ensure that the murderers and their sponsors are brought to book and must face the full wrath of the law.

“The APC NWC calls on the Police and other security agencies to as a matter of urgency, rise up to stem the tide of politically-motivated killings and other forms of violence in Rivers State. The politically-motivated killings in Rivers State is a real emergency that should not be treated with kid gloves. The situation is distressing, tragic and a huge source of worry to the party.

“The APC NWC hereby calls on security agencies to be on high alert over the dangerous threats and actions by Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike and by extension the PDP in the lead-up to the Rivers re-run election.”