Peterside Campaign outfit Condemns Continued killing of APC members

The Greater Together Campaign Organisation, GTCO, has raised alarm at the continued killing of members of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State. It has, therefore, demanded an immediate end to the dastardly acts, warning of spiral effects if not stopped. While calling for proactive steps by security agencies to curtail the ability of the perpetrators and their possible sponsors to hit their targets, GTCO, which is the campaign outfit of Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, asked the rationale behind the post-election killings. “If they killed APC members on election days, why have they continued to kill after the polls?”

In a statement in Port Harcourt on Monday signed by Ibim Semenitari, Director of Communications, the campaign outfit wondered why those behind the killings want to turn Rivers State into a killing field. Citing latest cases in Ahoada East, Okrika and other local government areas in the state where APC members have either been killed or abducted, GTCO said the killings raise concerns over the calibre of men and women INEC had declared winners of the elections in the estate. “The unabated killings of APC members in Rivers State raise concerns of the mental status of the men and women the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared winners of the recent elections in the state. We are afraid that killers and sundry criminals have been imposed on the state by INEC, and, if we are right, then, worse days lay ahead for our people”.

In specific terms, the statement explained that in Ahoada East local government, several gory killings have been recorded after the April 11 elections in which it alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, unleashed armed militias and all sorts of armed miscreants and uniformed rascals on voters. “Since the discredited Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State, killers have swarmed on Ahoada East, hitting down their targets. Recently, Messrs Chigba Apollos and Chiezule German, both members of APC in the area, were shot dead in Ibarikpo Town by unknown gunmen. Ibarikpo is in Ahoada East Ward 13.

GTCO said that apart from the killings, kidnappers are also on the prowl in Ahoada East targeting only APC members. “It appears APC in Ahoada is marked for extinction as kidnappers are also on the prowl targeting APC members on daily record”.

Specifically outlining the APC members in the kidnapers' den, GTCO cited the abduction of Chief Cassidy Ikegbidi, Chairman of Ahoada East Caretaker Committee, CTC, as one of the latest tragedies that have befallen APC. “Apart from Ikegbidi who was kidnapped last Friday, April 18, Mr. Suleiman Atago from Ideoha in Ward 5, and Chidi Oji from Ihuowo Ward 10, respectively, were also abducted by heavily armed gunmen reportedly dressed in military uniform”.

Similarly, GTCO has also condemned killings in Okrika where it noted, regrettably, more bizarre killings have taken place against APC members.

“In Okrika, more bizarre killings of known APC members have taken place. On Tuesday, March 24, ahead of the presidential election, Miebaka Opuogulaya from Abam-Ama(Abam community) was not only killed but his body was taken away by his killers.

“In similar bizarre manner, on Thursday, April 15 Mr. Saturday Wakama was killed and his corpse carried away. Wakama, a popular APC member in Okrika, was a member of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, and had championed campaigns for a riverine governor in Rivers State.

GTCO wondered why security agencies have not arrested any killer or kidnapper, to face justice. “This is an indictment on the agencies of state saddled with the responsibility of tackling law breakers. An arrest and prosecution will send strong warning to these outlaws and possibly stem the tide of growing murder of APC members in Rivers State. A stitch in time saves nine!”