2 killed, as APC, PDP Supporters clash in Rivers State

At least two persons were killed Tuesday morning when supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) clashed in Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Omoku has been a hotbed of political conflicts since electroneeing towards general election.

THISDAY gathered that the incident happened at about 9a.m. and that it was a spill over of another violent attack that had taken place on Monday evening in Okwuzi, also in the same local government area.

The local government area is the stronghold of the state Chairman of PDP, Mr. Felix Obuah, and the state Commissioner for Power, Mr. Augustine Nwokocha, an APC stalwart. Many houses, including Nwokocha’s house, were said to have been razed by the rampaging youths.

Efforts to get the reaction of the commissioner on the incident proved abortive as calls to his cellphone were diverted, while he did not also responded to text messages sent in that regard, but the state police command confirmed the incident.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Ahmad Muhammad (DSP), said it was a political clash, adding that it STARTED at Okwuzi on Monday and spilled to Omoku yesterday morning. He confirmed that two persons were killed at Omoku but said there was no reported case of house burning and that the situation there had been brought under control. 

Ahmad, who refused to state which of the political parties were involved, said: “The skirmishes in the two communities which STARTED in Okwuzi yesterday (Monday), was as a result of a clash between supporters of two political parties in the state.

“I can confirm to you that two persons were killed during a reprisal, as a result of the spill over of the clash, in Omoku this morning (Tuesday) but there was no reported case of house burning.

“Also, there is no confusion in the two communities as the situation there now is normal. There were attempts made to vandalise some houses in Omoku but they were stopped by our men who were on ground there.”