In a disturbing incident on Sunday night, armed individuals, purportedly police officers and suspected political thugs, stormed the residence of Edison Ehie, the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly in Port Harcourt.
This comes amidst the ongoing crisis within the state legislature, where Ehie declared himself Speaker following the suspension of 24 lawmakers, including himself, by the House.
Details of the attack remain unclear, with uncertainty about any damage or casualties. Reports suggest that the intrusion may have been an assassination attempt, but Ehie’s security team reportedly thwarted the assault.
The incident occurred while 27 lawmakers, led by House Speaker Martin Amaewhule, were in Abuja for a retreat described as a capacity-building exercise.
The spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, has not confirmed the incident, promising to provide details later.
Meanwhile, a statement attributed to Ken Uchendu, a Legislative Correspondent of the State House of Assembly, labeled the attack as an assassination attempt orchestrated by a police tactical unit head in the state, along with unidentified others.
The statement warned that senior police officers would be held accountable for any harm to the new Speaker and his household.
It assured the public that CCTV footage capturing the incident would be released for verification.
As the situation unfolds, there is growing concern about potential escalation and calls for accountability from President Bola Tinubu, should there be a breakdown of law and order in Rivers State.