Former leader and factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Edison Ehie, narrowly escaped an attack on his residence on Sunday.
Ehie confirmed the assault in an exclusive statement to Channels Television this Monday, revealing that his home is now under heavy security.
“Yes, indeed, it was crazy, but my house has been taken over by heavy security, and they are doing a security sweep of the whole compound,” stated the lawmaker.
He further declared his intention to hold a press conference later in the day, shedding light on the details of the shocking event.
The assailants reportedly engaged in a fierce gun battle with the official security details assigned to Ehie, as per a statement circulated on Facebook.
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The statement said,
“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, DSSRS, fully armed with an intention to assassinate Mr. Speaker and his family.”
The attackers were ultimately repelled, raising questions about the motive behind the targeted assault.
Responding to the incident, Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the police command, conveyed that the Commissioner of Police (CP) had initiated contact with the involved officers.
She added,
“The CP has reached out to the officers involved, and they’re coming to the Command HQ to meet the CP.”
It’s worth noting that SP Irifeke London, the immediate past camp commandant of the Rivers State Government House, had previously been redeployed after an incident where the current governor was tear-gassed.
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The situation is compounded by the recent legislative crisis triggered by the October 29 fire that consumed the House of Assembly. In the aftermath, Ehie was removed from his leadership position by lawmakers loyal to Martins Amaewhule. However, Ehie retaliated, declaring himself speaker, intensifying the power struggle within the House.
