The Department of State Services, DSS, has successfully averted an assassination attempt by armed men suspected to be thugs affiliated to a political party on the Director-General of NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside.
The heavily armed men attacked at UTC Junction, Old GRA, Port Harcourt leaving one of the assigned DSS officials to the NIMASA DG hit in the leg.
Explaining the incident, one of the security details said; “We got information that PDP thugs want to swap results at the collation centre at Isiokpo in Ikwerre Local government area. We mobilised to go and stop the thugs. On our way back to Port Harcourt, we noticed that a car was trailing us. At UTC junction, we decided to be sure of the people trailing us; the youths started shooting sporadically. My boss was hit.”
Following the assassination attempt, the Chief of staff of the Rivers State Governor, Emeka Woke has been arrested by the DSS in connection with the attack.
Confirming the attempt on his life, Dakuku disclosed that he “narrowly escaped death this afternoon after his vehicle was attacked by gunmen in two utility vehicles on his way from the Port Harcourt International Airport.”
In a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media to Dakuku, Sylvester Asoya, it was noted that “Peterside who was in his car with Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, Rivers State All Progressives Congress, APC Chairman and Hon H.O. Asita, Deputy Governorship candidate of the APC in April 2015 election said they escaped the assassins bullets by a stroke of luck.
“Two Jeeps belonging to Emeka Woke, NyesomWike’s Chief of Staff carrying two unknown gunmen trailed us to UTC Junction and opened fire on my car. Our car however did a detour to the DSS office gate where we drove to seek refuge but the unknown gunmen opened fire again at the SSS men on guard.
“The exchange of fire between the DSS men and the assailants lasted for more than 30 minutes. This is a very ugly experience but I thank God that my colleagues and I escaped unhurt.
“Today’s experience is not only terrifying but also shows the parlous state of security in Rivers State. If I can be engaged openly by gunmen for nearly an hour in the heart of Port Harcourt, only God knows the fate that will befall members of our party and those sympathetic to our predicament. What is happening today in our dear state is not only horrible but also constitutes serious national security risk.”
Military Personnel have since been deployed to guard Dr. Dakuku Perterside’s residence.
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