INVASION OF MINISTER'S HOUSE: AIDE SUSPECTS FOUL PLAY

By NBF News

The attack on the private residence of the Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, in Effurun, Delta State, last Friday, by security operatives has been described as a calculated attempt to eliminate the minister.

Special Assistant to the minister, Chief Hope Erute, made the remark to newsmen in Warri, yesterday, said about 100 unidentified security operatives, from the Joint Task Force (JTF), State security service (SSS) and the Police invaded the home of the minister mid - day with armoured tanks and unleashed terror on everyone on sight.

According to him, the invaders disarmed the police guarding the premises, confiscated their mobile phones and made them to sit on the ground while the civilian guards and other residents were forced to lay face down having seized all their belongings.

'The invaders subsequently moved into the compound and smashed a window to gain access into one of the apartments where the eldest son of the minister was putting a call through to his father alerting him that some hoodlums were unleashing terror on the premises. Meanwhile, the young man was man handled seriously,' Erute said. He said the timely arrival of policemen in Ekpan, led by the DPO, Muazu Mohammed saved the situation. But on sighting the policemen, the invaders quickly entered the armoured tanks and sped off.

Erute however said after investigation, it was learnt that the invaders were in search of arms and ammunication allegedly stock-piled in the premises of the minister, adding that, in another breath, the security operatives said they were in search of one of their firearms that were missing.

'Following the conflicting statements, it was clear that the security operatives had come to kill the minister. We believe firmly that this plot was masterminded by the Delta State Government, all in attempt to cripple the Urhobo nation,' Erute alleged. The minister's aide therefore condemned the invasion in it's entirety describing it as barbaric and cowardly adding, it is ridiculous for a minister's home to be invaded with impunity by hoodlums purporting to be political leaders.'