Chikobi Fyneface Ekele,

…Governor Wike calls IGP to fish out killers

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

The leader of the Ahoada West legislative Assembly, Ekele Chikobi Cohen, popularly known as “EFCC” was shot dead last night along the now notorious Ahole-Emohua axis of the East West road in Rivers State.

Eyewitnesses said Chikobi Fyneface Ekele, was traveling in the convoy of the lawmaker representing Ahoada West Constituency in the Rivers House of Assembly, Augustine Wanaka Okpokori, when they were ambushed by gunmen who opened fire at them killing Ekele, while scores of others sustained bullet wounds.

“In the melee, the hoodlums whisked away some of the passengers into the bush. The deceased lawmaker were returning to Port Harcourt after the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ward to ward campaign ahead of the general elections”.

The killing of the young politician has elicited anger among the Ekpeye Youth who have called on the security agencies to overhaul the security along the East West road, especially the Emohua stretch.

They also accused the policemen along the route of connivance with the criminals in the area.

They also called on the youth leaders of Rumuji, Elele, Ndele and Emohua to call their youths to order to avoid reprisal attacks, stating that the killing of the young Ekpeye politician is one too many in recent weeks and month.

The Rivers State Police Command has not made comments on both incidents.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has called on the Inspector General of Police, Department of State Services

and other security agencies to fish out the killers of EFCC Chiko

The Governor made the call in a statement issued by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah.

“Time has come for the Government and people of Rivers State to ask more questions as to the security of lives and property in our State and the role and effectiveness of security agencies,” Okah said, noting that the death of EFCC Chiko after a campaign rally in his LGA is unacceptable.

He said that despite threats to the people of Rivers people, the State Government has continued to find ways to end this quagmire by supporting security agencies.

“Recall that the establishment of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency was a direct response to these challenges, but some prominent Rivers sons instigated the Nigeria Army to shut down the recruitment process for their selfish political ends” Okah said, adding that violent crimes like the death of EFCC Chiko would have been averted if the Agency had commenced operations.

“Rivers State Government considers this death and the others like it, a direct affront to the security agencies and Rivers people demand that they rise to the occasion if they want us to believe their strength and impartiality”.

On our part, we shall continue to do everything within our powers as government to get the pepetrators of this crime to book in no distant time, the statement added.

“As a Government, we call on the Inspector General of Police not to go the way of his predecessor who politicised Rivers State security and didn’t consider the lives and property of Rivers people a priority despite repeated demands.

He must show his presence in the arena.

“Hon. Ekele Fyneface Chikobi Cohen (EFCC Chiko) must not die in vain,” the Governor said.

Also suspected pirates armed with sophisticated weapons  raided the Bakana jetty in Rivers State on Thursday evening, shooting sporadically to scare people while carting seven boats away.

Confirming this incident in a telephone interview, the president of Bakana Federation, Francis Dick, said that the suspected pirates stormed the jetty after shooting sporadically and towed away the speedboats anchored at the jetty.

Dick said no casualty was recorded, but the shooting that lasted for about half an hour resulted into panic, leading to commotion among the residents.

“Late last night, some arned hoodlums stormed the Bakana jetty, shot sporadically, Untie the packed boats and towed seven of them away. In less than an hour,they made a return trip to steal more. But residents who were already awake challenged them before they fled, but not without shooting severely,” the youth leader said.

He further revealed that, “Along the coastline of Bakana,there are a lot of illegal activities of the Niger Delta youths. When they steal the boats, the highly priced item on it are the Engines on the stolen speedboats,which they easily sell off. The Engines are very expensive in the boats market.

“This is a regular occurrence. In the second week of January, a  similar incident happened.”