Ahamefula Ogbu
20 August 2008
Port Harcourt — The relative peace which security agencies had engendered in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital was again shattered yesterday when sporadic shootings by suspected criminal elements sent people scampering in different directions.
At the end of the Fracas which pitched the policemen of the Joint Task Force (JTF) against the criminals two of the hoodlums were allegedly killed while several others were injured.
Also, one of the lieutenants of Soboma George called Awala was alleged to have been arrested which in the first instance, sparked off the firing by the hoodlums before they were routed by the security agencies.
Police however denied the arrest, saying that they only know of sporadic shooting by hoodlums at the waterside while their men have dispatched well armed policemen to ensure peace and tranquility returned to the area.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Rita Abbey, confirmed the shooting but said everything was under control. When THISDAY called the Spokesman of the JTF, Lt. Colonel Sagir Musa, he simply replied with some urgency that "We are in an operation, I will get back to you later".
However, Action Congress in Rivers State unequivocally condemned the attack which it said was an "unwarranted invasion of Port Harcourt by some unholy men shooting and terrorising innocent residents for no just cause".
The party through its Media consultant, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze thanked the police for bringing the situation under control and advocated that criminals who indulge in the disturbance of the peace should be made to face the law.
Although the attack was initially alleged to have been carried out by the leader of the Niger Delta Vigilante Movement, Tom Ateke, when THISDAY called him to ask why he launched such an early morning attack, he denied involvement in the shootout.
Ateke said while it was true that he was abused by Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, shooting at innocent people who were not the governor was of no use and said neither himself nor his boys had a hand in the shooting.
"We are not responsible for the attack. It is true that the governor abused me but we do not shoot like that. If you shoot, did innocent people abuse me? Innocent people should not die. Since the shooting did not affect the governor, we will not shoot. My boys were not involved" he clarified.
Information said the shooting started in the early hours of yesterday at the Abuja quarters where eye witnesses said the hoodlums killed two people and stuffed their remains in the boot of their car and started driving towards Aggrey road before they were confronted by security men.
Police yesterday arrested Soboma's kingpin while JTF killed two militants at Aggrey Road Roundabout at about 1030hrs. JTF also recovered four AK47 rifles, 11 AK47 magazines and 200 rounds of 7.62mm", security reports said.
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