•No political motive, says task force
The Joint (Security) Task Force (JTF) in Rivers State has said it arrested six youth conveying arms to Ogu in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of the state.
JTF said there was no evidence that the youth were linked to or acting on behalf of any politician in the state.
But unconfirmed reports have linked the youth to the Senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District in the Senate, George Sekibo, and leader of the anti-Governor Rotimi Amaechi lawmakers in the state House of Assembly, Evans Bipi.
JTF spokesman, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, told THISDAY, “As at January 3, 2014, six suspects with arms were arrested during a routine patrol at Ogu community in Ogu/Bolo local Government Area.
“Items recovered were seven AK-47 riffles, 164 rounds of ammunition and six locally-made cannon launchers.
“They (the suspects) were handed over to Nigeria Police yesterday. They were arrested for illegal possession of fire arms and not for any reason of political or social affiliation as being wrongly insinuated.”
Nwachukwu was reacting to reports that the suspects were linked to the Senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District and leader of the anti-Amaechi lawmakers in the assembly.
The report gave the names of the youth as Sunday Elisha, Uche Jenikachi, Ibinabo Lawson, Okechukwu Okoro, Jerry Tonye and Daniel Ibito-Anga, and said they were arrested with arms and ammunition.
According to the report, the youth were caught with seven AK-47 riffles, 146 rounds of 7.62mm special life ammunition and 10 life magazines, among others.
The report also said the youth were Saturday handed over to the police by the JTF for investigation and prosecution.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Ahmad Muhammad (DSP), however, said he was not aware of the arrest and hand over of the suspects to the police.
“I am not aware of the arrest or hand over of suspects to the police by the JTF,” Muhammad said.
Leader of the anti-Amaechi lawmakers in the state House of Assembly, Bipi, also told THISDAY that he was not aware of the arrest of any of his supporters, insisting that none of his political associates would be linked to carrying arms and ammunition.
“I am not aware of any such arrest of any of my supporters or associates. That report linking me to anybody arrested by the JTF is a frame up and cheap blackmail. I believe it is a plot by my political opponents to divert attention from the arrest of Hon. Chidi Lloyd of the state House of Assembly on allegations of murder,” he said.
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