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Violence in the Oriental states: Six feared killed as gunmen attack APGA campaign rally

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APGA CAMPAIGN

 

The orgy of violence in the southeast part of the country have continued with no fewer than six persons feared killed on Tuesday in Ihiala in Anambra State, following a gun battle between security operatives and gunmen.

Many persons were also injured during the shootout that lasted for over two hours in the local government area

According to reports, the incident occurred at Odata area where the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) went for a campaign rally.

According to a source, Governor Willie Obiano was among those whose vehicles were trapped in the melee.

“The Governor’s convoy was held for about one hour while gunshots were booming everywhere in the area. They did not attack the convoy but security men.

“During the gun duel, some security operatives were felled and some gunmen were equally killed. We know those who were killed would be more than six.”

Anambra police spokesman, Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed the incident.

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He said there were no casualties on the part of Police while security operatives recovered one AK 47 rifle, 30 rounds of ammunition, two magazines and four vehicles

According to him: “The Operatives of Anambra State Command at 9:30am 12/10/21 successfully repelled an attack at Odata Central School, beside St Martins church Ihiala.

“Exhibits recovered included one AK 47 rifle, two magazines with 30 rounds of ammunition, one Lexus 350 jeep, one Rav- 4 jeep, one Mercedes Benz and a Toyota Corolla.

“Preliminary investigation reveals that the hoodlums started shouting sporadically while arriving Odata central school

“But security operatives involving the police and military successfully repelled them. No casualty was recorded in police.

“Meanwhile, normalcy has been restored in the area and operations are ongoing in the area for possible arrest of the fleeing gang members with wounds.”

Anambra Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C Don Adinuba, said security operatives repelled attacks where APGA was scheduled to organise a campaign rally for the November 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra State.

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He said the gunmen came on various motorcycles and in three vehicles, namely a Toyota Lexus 350 ES with registration number EKY 765 EX, Toyota RAV4 with number JJJ 434FP and a Ford van whose number could not be ascertained at the time of this report

“The gunmen, unable to withstand the superior fire power of the soldiers and police officers, quickly ran into the large premises of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital which is directly opposite the campaign ground.

“They suffered serious injuries, even though they managed to shoot a gallant soldier”, according to an eye witness who did not want his name disclosed in the media for fear of his safety.

“If the gunmen had not run into the hospital which is a very delicate place to shoot any person, the security men would have gunned all of them down,” Adinuba said.

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Four dead, 70 vehicles burned in Rivers fuel tanker explosion – Police

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The Rivers state Police command says four people and over 70 vehicles were burnt in Friday’s fuel tanker explosion in the state.

 

The explosion occurred along Eleme section of the East-West Road in the state at about 7:30 p.m.

SP Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesman of command, who confirmed the sad incident in Port Harcourt on Saturday, said that the tragedy occurred following a collision between a heavy-duty truck and a petrol-laden tanker.

 

At the scene of the accident, there were seveal burnt vehicles and charred bodies of victims on the road.

 

The incident happened a few metres from the Indorama Petrochemical Company and roughly 10 kilometres from the Port Harcourt Refinery.

 

There was an extensive gridlock stretching over five kilometres on the road under reconstruction as part of the N200 billion Ring Road project by the Rivers Government.

 

State government trucks, accompanied by police and Federal Road Safety Commission officials, were seen evacuating the burnt vehicles to facilitate traffic flow.

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An eyewitness, Onyeka Ubani, who narrowly escaped the explosion, said that while transporting passengers on his newly acquired tricycle (Keke), they heard a deafening sound ahead of them.

 

“The loud sound was followed by a massive fireball, causing everyone to flee for safety.

 

“We managed to escape, but unfortunately, my Keke caught fire in the process.

 

“I thank God for my life, but I am at a loss about what to do with my life now, having recently purchased this Keke,” a distraught Ubani said.

 

Another eyewitness, David Jumbo, said that he was returning home from work around the Akpajo axis of the East-West Road when the incident occurred.

 

He narrated that after the explosion, vehicles and victims were caught by fire, which stretched over 200 metres.

 

“It happened so quickly that it could be likened to scenes from Hollywood movies.

 

“While I was fleeing for safety, I saw a pregnant woman struggling to exit one of the commercial vehicles.

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“Unfortunately, when I returned this morning, I found the deceased pregnant woman trapped in the bus as she tried to escape,” he recounted.

 

Jumbo attributed the accident to the recklessness of truck drivers, who disregarded road warnings despite the ongoing road construction.

Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, who visited the accident scene, described it as tragic and sad.

 

He urged motorists to always exercise caution while on the road.

“This incident is not a pleasant one, we recorded a huge number of vehicles destroyed and lives lost.

 

“I have already asked the relevant agencies to brief us on how we can support the bereaved families to mitigate their losses.

 

“This incident would have been avoided if the motorists had adhered to proper conduct. People should ply this road with caution,” Fubara said.

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Fubara visits scene of tanker explosions, promises support for families of victims

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Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, says the state government will support he families of victims affected by the multiple tanker explosion.

 

Fubara spoke on Saturday when he visited the scene of the accident alongside Olatunji Disu, commissioner for police in Rivers, and Maximus Nwafor, commissioner for energy.

 

On Friday night, tankers laden with petroleum products burst into flames on a section of the East-West road in Eleme, Rivers state, leaving an unspecified number of people killed.

 

The inferno which had also left travellers stranded for hours, engulfed over 50 vehicles, with some bodies found burnt beyond recognition in cars and in a nearby drainage.

The governor directed security agencies to conduct a thorough assessment of the accident to facilitate the provision of aid to families of victims.

 

“Yesterday around 7-8pm, we got information about a very serious inferno that was caused by a tanker conveying PMS,” he said.

 

“I got the information through the MD of Indorama and immediately alerted the security agencies. From what we are seeing this morning, it was not a very pleasant case.

“We recorded, from what I am seeing, a huge number of vehicles being destroyed and souls lost.

 

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“I have already asked the security agencies to give us a full brief. So that we can come into the situation fully by seeing how much we can support the families of the bereaved and see how we can cushion the effect of the losses.”

 

The governor also lamented the deteriorating condition of the Eleme section of the East-West road.

 

“We all know the situation of this road; it is unfortunate. Most of our people when plying this road do so with caution,” he added.

 

 

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Many feared dead in multiple petrol tanker explosions in Rivers

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An unspecified number of people have been killed after tankers laden with petroleum products burst into flames on a section of the east-west road in Eleme, Rivers state.

 

The incident, which left travellers stranded for hours, occurred on Friday night.

 

Some of the victims of the multiple explosions were said to have been trapped in their vehicles as the blasts raged.

 

The cause of the explosions are not clear at the time of reporting. However, eyewitnesses have pointed to “dangerous driving and negligence”.

The Nation quoted Segun Owolabi, an eyewitness, as saying that one tanker collided with a vehicle before bursting into flames, leading to a domino effect.

 

“I saw four dead bodies burnt. Some may have been in the bushes because many ran away. I saw a whole stretch of vehicles burnt down, trailers burnt down,” Owolabi said.

“There seems to be a truck carrying substances and it was as if it had collided with another vehicle that may have ignited the fire. Over 20 vehicles burnt down and several people trapped.

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“There may be more bodies. Oh my God this is a tragedy. A stretch of vehicles burnt.”

 

Another eyewitness said he heard a loud explosion from a petrochemical complex in the area.

 

“I heard a very loud sound about 20 minutes ago, and people were shouting,” he said.

 

“The sound came from the petrochemical company area. So when I came out I saw thick smoke with fire from a distance.”

The inferno reportedly raged for hours before it was put out by firefighters.

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