The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers State, Senator Lee Maeba, has condemned the Thursday attack on his residence on Prof Abowei Street, GRA, Phase 3 in Port Harcourt by suspected political thugs.
Maeba, in an interview with journalists, said the assailants, who attacked his house less than 30 minutes after he left home, were determined to kill him.
An eyewitness had earlier told our correspondent that the armed men arrived at the senator’s residence at about 7am, shot into the air, hit the gate several times and started scaling the fence.
Our reporter, who visited the scene at about 10.55am, observed that the windscreens of four Toyota salon cars and one SUV Escalade in the compound were damaged by the invaders.
Maeba later arrived at the scene with operatives of the Department of State Services and some policemen.
Later, the Director-General of the PDP PCC in Rivers State and a former Minister of Transportation, Dr Abiye Sekibo, as well as the state campaign council’s spokesman, Dr Leloonu Nwibubasa; and a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara, arrived at the residence.
Speaking to newsmen, Maeba said he was in Port Harcourt, the state capital, to see his family and attend some events.
He said, “This morning, there were some uneasy movements along this street. Some neighbours informed me that they had noticed a swarm of strange faces, resembling a gang.
“I don’t have a criminal life; my compound was empty. I am humble; I don’t do thuggery. I don’t participate in thuggery, and I don’t hire thugs. So, I said, what will they be doing on the street and I dismissed it.
“Then, around 9am, I asked to see my mother-in-law. But, before then, a young man called me with a number that I don’t know and told me that I had done him a favour before and that I should be careful if I am at home.
“That they have received instructions from some quarters to attack my house and attack me. But I dismissed it because I don’t have problems with anybody.
“I just drove out with my security personnel to see my mother-in-law. As I entered my mother-in-law’s house, my phone was ringing, and my nephew picked up the phone and said my house was under attack.
“They shot at the gate and forced it open. They climbed the second gate and tied up the security guard. They entered the compound and were shouting, ‘Where is he? Where is he? Only one bullet will solve this Atiku problem.’”
He added, “My senior brother was standing somewhere there, and they descended on him. The next thing they started doing was using the boots of their guns to destroy the cars. They got to the front door (the main house) and tried to open it, but they couldn’t. So, they started retreating. You can see the destruction.
“My worry is what my offence is, that people will come to my compound for? Atiku does not live here. I only work for Atiku, yes. I am an Atiku supporter. What has that got to do with attacking my house in a bid to kill me? This is a democracy, and I am a democrat.”
Maeba said he called the State Commissioner of Police, Okon Effion, many times but that he neither picked up nor returned his calls.
“I called the Director of Department of State Service, I called the Inspector-General of Police, and I sent pictures of what has happened here to everybody. No one has responded.
“I only saw two gentlemen who came here and said the CP sent them to come and assess the situation. In a distressing situation, will you send only two men? That is the situation, and that is what happened,” he explained.
When contacted, Effion said he was in an operation in the Ogoni axis of the state and that a full-scale investigation has been ordered into the incident.
He said, “Well, I don’t have his number. I was in an operation in Ogoni; otherwise, I would have called him. But I sent a team to that place when some other person called me.
“When I got a clearer picture of what had happened, I sent the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, to quickly go there (Maeba’s residence) and meet with him and ensure something is done.
“As a result, I have already authorised an investigation, and the DCP, CID will provide me with an update. As soon as I return, I will drive to his place myself.”
