Former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi called on security forces on Friday to locate and arrest the miscreants who attacked his convoy and set fire to the African Democratic Congress headquarters in the Ubima community, Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers State.
Gunmen reportedly ambushed Amaechi’s convoy on Friday on the route between Ubima and Omuanwa in Ikwerre LGA.
The former Rivers State governor was in his neighborhood to e-register as an ADC member.
However, before Amaechi arrived in the community at 12:15 p.m. on Friday, suspected thugs had already set up a barrier, preventing buses carrying ADC members from attending the visit.
On Thursday night, the thugs set fire to the ADC ward office in Ubima, Amaechi’s hometown.
The miscreants, who purportedly entered the town with strong armament to prevent the former governor’s visit, shot randomly and pelted Amaechi’s family residence with bullets.
However, when the ADC leader arrived to enter the village, the armed thugs reportedly stopped his convoy, but security personnel on his team confronted the attackers.
When security personnel demonstrated superior firepower, the armed thugs ran into the bushes.
Amaechi urged the hundreds of party members and supporters who had gathered to see the e-registration exercise to be peaceful.
He congratulated the commissioner of police, the director of the Department of State Services, and the commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for their quick response to the attack on his convoy.
Amaechi, who spoke after touring the burned-out party headquarters, praised the security agencies for their competent response.
He advised party members not to resort to violence, pointing out that it was the police’s obligation to identify, arrest, and prosecute those responsible for the attacks.
“I will thank the commissioner of police and the director of DSS. They showed a lot of professionalism immediately after I made contact with them.
“In fact, I wasn’t expecting that kind of cooperation. I thought they would be behind these criminals and not render support. But all of us will agree that the police came out, the NSCDC came, and the DSS came out.
“So we are grateful to them. I’m grateful to them, especially those of them who are here,” Amaechi stated.
He added, “But they must also know that this cannot continue. The way they will show us that this cannot continue is that they must prosecute those who are involved in this crime.”
Amaechi also advised the state governor to take steps to ensure adequate security around the state in order to prevent anarchy.
He encouraged party members to start enormous mobilization, adding that the party’s ultimate goal was the presidency.
He said, “I have been a governor, and I know the consequences of not protecting the lives of people. The people will begin to protect their lives by themselves because they don’t want to die.
“But for now, everybody should calm down. Everybody should thank the Commissioner of Police. Everybody should thank the director of SSS and the commandant of NSCDC.
“Our role is to be calm, to be peaceful. We are marching to Aso Rock. What they are doing is a distraction. What they are doing will not put food on your table.
“We are hungry. If you are not hungry, tell them I am hungry. People are dropping dead every day because of hunger. And there are a few people who are stealing our money, and they say we should keep quiet.
“We can no longer keep quiet. ADC Rivers State, you must register en masse. You must make sure that we have enough members to surprise them. On election day, they will know whether we will vote or not.”
When reached, Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, stated that she would gather information about the event and get back to our correspondent.
However, she had failed to do so as of Friday afternoon, when this item was filed.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
