TheCable

The Rivers state police command has commenced manhunt for gunmen who killed six persons and burnt the house of a politician in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area of the state.

In an interview with NAN in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Ahmed Muhammad, the police public relations officer of the command, said the gunmen attacked Obrikom and Obor communities killing six persons and injuring two others.

He said they also burnt the house of Vincent Ogbagu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) house of assembly candidate for the local government.

“At about 7.30 pm yesterday (April 3), some unknown armed men invaded Obrikom and Obor communities and went on a shooting spree. They killed six and injuring two persons,” he said.

“They also set ablaze the house of Vincent Ogbagu, an APC house of assembly candidate.”

Muhammad said the police had commenced investigation into the incident with a view to bringing its perpetrators to book.

“We appeal to the public to assist in making available, credible information in this respect,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Rotimi Amaechi, governor of the state, has set up a judicial commission of inquiry to look into the deaths that occurred during the election period.

Speaking during a rally of the APC in Obio/Akpor local government area on Friday, Amaechi said those behind the killings would not go unpunished.

“This morning, I got approval from the executive council to set up a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate those deaths that happened before election, during election and after election,” he said.

“Anybody found guilty will go to jail. I didn’t set up administrative inquiry, I set up judicial commission of inquiry. It means that the man sitting there is sitting as a judge and not as chairman, meaning that if you are found guilty, it is straight to jail.”

Incidents of violence were recorded in different parts of the state during the presidential and parliamentary elections and the state also witnessed the highest rate of pre-election violence in the country.