2023: Dynamite, gunshots rock Rivers APC campaign

No fewer than three persons were injured on Thursday when hoodlums detonated dynamite into the campaign rally venue of the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in an attempt to disrupt the rally.

The APC campaign which was held at the Rumuwoji Civic Centre ground, popularly known as Ojukwu Field, was attended by the party’s governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, and other party chieftains who arrived despite the threat to disrupt the rally by hoodlum.

Two female party faithfuls and a man were wounded but were rushed to a nearby hospital after dynamite and gunshots rocked the venue.

It was learned some APC faithfuls began to sing solidarity songs to encourage others not to be intimidated and flee. Despite the explosives thrown at the APC supporters, as well as shooting by the hoodlums, Cole urged his supporters to remain calm.

It was gathered that Sir Allwell Ihunda, the Mayor of Port Harcourt, who is the Local Government Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government had earlier stormed the venue of the rally warning against the use of the facility by the APC. But he escaped being attacked by some APC supporters who told him he had no right to stop the party from holding the rally, but one of his aides was not as lucky as he was manhandled despite the efforts of the police officers stationed around the venue.

A trader who closed his shop for the rally, trouble started around 8am when technical people arranging the venue were being threatened by some youths to stop what they were doing, warning them that the rally will not hold.

He narrated that despite the presence of police officers and an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), stationed at the entrance of the venue, some youths started shooting from behind the kiosks that surround the venue.