The commissioner of police in Rivers State, Olatunji Disu, has declared that from the preliminary investigations carried out by the command so far, there is no evidence of assassination attempt on Hon Edison Ehie, one of the state lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Ehie, who is the speaker of the faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, had, in the early hours of yesterday (Monday) said there was an attempt to assassinate him and his family on Sunday night in Port Harcourt.
But, addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday, Disu, said the police was making efforts to get in touch with the lawmaker, who is also former leader of the state legislature, to get vital information from him.
The police commissioner said, “The preliminary investigations we have done so far have not revealed any assassination attempt. All I knew is that Police officers were on patrol, convoy patrol; it is a routine thing.
“We have made frantic effort to get across to the leader to give us any information he has so that we can include it in what we are acting on. So far so good. There is nothing to worry about.
“My plea to him and every other person, if there is any complain, my number is going to be made public; they should call me quickly so that I can look into it. For now, I have not received any official complain.”
Ehie had in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, yesterday morning, by his legislative aide, Ken Uchendu, allegedly escaped assassination late Sunday night.
The statement, which alleged that the suspected attackers, included armed thugs and some policemen led by two senior police officers, said it took the intervention of the factional speaker’s security details to foil the alleged assassination attempt.
The statement reads in part: “At about 11pm on Sunday the 19th day of November, 2023, a group of armed thugs and rogue police officers led by one SP Irikefe London Owen, a superintendent of Police attached to the CTU B 3 RSV and CSP Salihu Masalachi attacked the private residence of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Barr. Edison Ogerenye Ehie, fully armed with an intention to assassinate Mr. Speaker and his family.
“However, the thugs and rogue police officers led by the two above-named police officers in Rivers State were vehemently repelled in a gun battle by the official security details attached to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Barr. Edison Ogerenye Ehie.
“It is imperative to note that the armed rogues and officers were properly and fully captured by CCTV footage in the residence, which shall be made available to all media houses, including the CNN, Aljazeera and other national and international media outlets for the records.”
