By: Felix Ikpotor
Following the assassination of one of his constituents, the lawmaker representing Obio/Akpor Constituency 2 in the Rivers State House of Assembly, RVHA, Micheal Chinda has called on security agencies to go beyond checking only papers of tanker drivers but to also search their vehicles for dangerous weapons.
The lawmaker spoke after he visited the family of Mr. Anele David Wagbara who was murdered by yet to be identified tanker driver and his conductor at Rumousi in Port Harcourt on Friday night.
Chinda while condemning the incidence called for justice for the family.
He said, “ the incidence is a very said one and I will encourage men of the Nigerian police to go beyond verification of documents and embark on searching some of these tankers and truck as experience has shown that most of them are carrying incriminating items and illicit goods”.
Continuing he said, “ Justice must be done and I will follow it up”.
Recall that an unidentified tanker driver, and his conductor stabbed a mortuary operator, Anele David Wagbara, to death in front of his office.
The incident happened Friday night at Rumuosi Community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
It was gathered that the suspect believed to be a northerner had killed the victim following an argument.
An eyewitness, Kalu Okoronkwo narrated what happened to this publication.
He said, “ tankers use to gather here in the night, so when I came here I saw people shouting while the director himself (Wagbara) was already down so one of our man rushed the one that stabbed the director as he was about to run. They are two and I held one while we were dragging, he used the knife to injure me too”.
It was gathered that Wagbara fell and died on the spot, while the driver jumped into his vehicle to escape before he was apprehended and handed over to the police.
We gathered that the victim was rushed to the emergency care unit of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, UPTH, where he was later confirmed dead.
However, the development has caused panic in the Rumuosi axis of Port Harcourt, as indigenes trooped out and destroyed over three tankers.
The residents of the area also reportedly broke into shops owned by Hausas in the area destroying and setting ablaze their property.
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of Rivers State Police Command, DSP. Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the development said the remains of the victim have been deposited in a mortuary.
Omoni said the driver of the vehicle had packed in front of the mortuary and killed the owner of the office when he was confronted.
The police spokesman said: “We are aware of the development and police has taken charge. The driver and conductor in our custody. Normalcy has returned in the area. We are not aware of any other person stabbed in the process.”
