The All Progressives Congress rally in the Umunachi community of Rivers State’s Omuma Local Government Area was disrupted by suspected political thugs.
The incident on Monday was said to have caused panic in the community, with some locals fleeing for safety.
The APC chairman in Omuma LGA, Onyekachi Ojiegbe, confirmed the incident and stated that the attack was carried out to discourage APC members from campaigning.
He said; “What happened here today was an eyesore. Since last night, we have been guarding the equipment with some security agencies that came with us.
“However, around 5.25am, a group of people drove in three Hilux and two Government House police regalia.
“They shot sporadically in the air to disperse our supporters and carted away two generators, vandalised my car beyond repair, and also vandalised the tactical team vehicle of the Area Command, Oyigbo.
“On asking the police why they didn’t react, most of them told me that those were their colleagues. They suspect that they came from Government House. That’s why they could not shoot at them.”
The spokesperson for the APC Campaign Council in the state, Sogbeye Eli, also confirmed the incident in a statement, calling on the state police commissioner, Okon Effiong, to immediately order an investigation and ensure that those behind the attack were arrested and prosecuted.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party denied any involvement in the attack and faulted the accusation that policemen attached to the Government House were among the assailants.
The Director, Directorate of Publicity and Communications, Rivers State PDP Campaign Council, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, this in a statement, described the allegation as “propaganda.”