Bomb explosions and gunshots rocked the gubernatorial campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress ,APC at Okrika in Rivers State on Tuesday.
It was first the explosions, then followed by sporadic shootings by unknown gun men who invaded the venue of the rally.
According to eye witnesses, the shooting proceeded for at least 5 minutes and all those at the venue dived for cover.
It was learned that the Police had warned about danger of holding rally at Okirika because safety could not be guaranteed.
Reports indicate that no fewer than 50 persons were injured, including a journalist, while a policeman was shot and feared dead in the violent attacks, which was allegedly aimed at disrupting the rally.
Thousands of persons had gathered at the Okrika National School field to attend the party’s governorship rally which had been shifted three times due to security concerns, but it was not long before their fears became a reality.
While APC supporters were awaiting the arrival of the party’s governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside, three explosives suspected to be dynamites were detonated.
The first one went off right beside the stage where people were standing. Soon after, another explosion went off on the roof of the building. The dynamite destroyed the roof. The confusion created forced people to scamper to safety.
Shortly afterwards, policemen from the anti-bomb squad were deployed to cordon off the area.
The explosions occurred while Peterside and members of his Greater Together Campaign Organisation were on a courtesy call to the palace of the Amanyanabo of Ogoloma in Okrika.
Due to the heavy presence of officials of the State Security Service (SSS) and Joint Task Force in armoured personnel carriers, Peterside and his team, assumed the town was safe and that they could proceed with the event, hence the decision to move to National School field for the commencement of the rally at about 2.pm.
But unknown to him, it was was just scene one of the first act in the eclectic melodrama.
Peterside had told journalists that the explosion was not enough to discourage the APC from going on with the rally.
“Nothing would have made me abort this rally except if God had instructed me to do so. We were not expecting that there would have been series of explosives as we heard this morning, but we were very determined because we saw the Okrika spirit of resilience and we could not disappoint them. We were very determined to go on with this rally, in honour of Okrika spirit of resilience, in honour of the determination of Okrika people to chose the kind of government they want, in honour of the resilience spirit of Okrika people to chose a government who will fight insecurity, who will lift their people out of insecurity, who will create jobs for the people,” he said.
Then came the gunmen. His supporters were taking turns to speak. Peterside was about to be called to the rostrum to address the people, sporadic gunshots were heard from different directions. This forced Peterside, his running mate and others to take cover.
Amid the attack, which lasted for over one hour, a journalist, Mr. Charles Iweka of Channels Television was stabbed. A policeman was also shot, while over 50 persons sustained injuries. The gunmen later set the musical equipment for the rally ablaze.
Peterside, who escaped unhurt, alleged that a state lawmaker protected by policemen was seen giving directives to the gunmen who disrupted the rally.
There was no immediate reaction from the State Police Command spokesperson, Ahmad Muhammad, on the development as at press time.
In the early hours of January 11, 2015, the Okrika LGA, APC party secretariat and the campaign office of Peterside was attacked. Campaign billboards and posters were destroyed. And on Saturday, January 24, 2015, gunmen, alleged to be members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), attacked the venue of proposed APC governorship rally. The assailants destroyed properties and prevented the rally from holding.
