Former leader and factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Edison Ehie, claims he narrowly escaped death on Sunday following an attack on his home.
Ehie acknowledged the attack in an interview with Channels Television on Monday morning, stating, “Yes, indeed, it was crazy but my house has been taken over by heavy security and they are doing a security sweep of the whole compound.”
The legislator mentioned that he intends to conduct a press briefing later in the day, in response to a statement posted on Facebook.
The statement said, “At about 11 pm on Sunday the 19th day of November 2023, a group of Armed thugs and rogue Police Officers led by one SP. Irikefe London Owen, a superintendent of Police attached to the CTU B 3 RSV and CSP Salihu Masalachi attacked the private residence of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Barr. Edison Ogerenye Ehie, DSSRS, fully armed with an intention to assassinate Mr. Speaker and his family.”
According to the statement, the attackers were thwarted in a gunfire exchange with the official security personnel assigned to Ehie.
Reacting, the police command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, said, “The CP has reached out to the officers involved and they’re coming to the Command HQ to meet the CP.”
SP Irifeke London, the former camp commandant of the Rivers State Government House, was transferred after the current governor experienced tear-gassing.
After the fire incident on October 29 that engulfed the House of Assembly, lawmakers loyal to Martins Amaewhule ousted Ehie from his position as the leader. However, in retaliation, Ehie declared himself the speaker, triggering a legislative crisis in the House.