Thugs kill DSS operative during gun battle

 

In less than 24 hours to the Rivers state rerun national and state parliamentary elections, an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been gunned down by thugs.

The hoodlums engaged the DSS operatives in a gun duel on March 18 in Egi area of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area of the state. It was gathered that a team of security operatives were intercepted during their operations in the area ahead Saturday’s rerun elections. The interception

reportedly resulted in a fierce gun battle between the security personnel and the hoodlums. There is undoubtedly serious tension in Rivers state as reports emerged on Thursday that gunmen suspected to be sea pirates shot dead three soldiers and a major in the Nigerian army. Before the gruesome murder of these security personnel, the state had been witnessing killings along party lines. A development that made some political actor like the All Progressives Congress (APC) acting national chairman, Segun Oni, alleged that the killing of his party members are politically motivated.

The state government in its initial reaction to the happenings in the state, said the killings were cult related as two cult groups were currently engaged in supremacy battle. The state chapter of the PDP also held that the killings were cult related and alleged that the party had also lost some of its members in the recent death visit to the state.