More details are beginning to unfold on what transpired at the National School field in Okrika, Rivers State on Tuesday afternoon while the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the State held its governorship rally at the local government, which is the home to Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.
DAILY POST’s correspondent, Victor Azubuike, who was at the field when the event took place reports that there were series of bomb blasts near the venue. But, the APC leaders and their supporters dismissed it as a ploy to distract them from their campaign. Hence, they continued with the rally. But barely 20 minutes after, scores of unknown gunmen invaded the venue through the creeks in gunboats. They shot sporadically on the crowd not sparing the VIP stand where the governorship candidate and his running mate were seated. Also seated in the VIP arena, were top members of their campaign executive council.
Even though these party leaders in the State are said to have escaped unhurt, our correspondent reports that they had to crawl on the ground to get to their vehicles. The police operatives responded briskly by assisting the candidates as well as other party top shots to escape. They also did their best to secure the crowd. However, in the words of our reporter, “as at now that I am talking to you, Okrika is under siege.”
It is feared that the level of casualty may be very high as another eyewitness told DAILY POST that, “there will surely-surely be high casualties, but we don’t know yet.” Responding to questions on who may be behind the attack, the eyewitness said there is the possibility that the opposition party in the state is culpable “and don’t forget the fact that ex-militant leader, Ateke Tom, is from Okrika and has never hidden his tough stance against the ruling APC”.
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