A baby reportedly lost consciousness after being tear-gassed on Wednesday during a clash between supporters of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and loyalists of ex-governor Nyesom Wike in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
The clash occurred during a government medical outreach in the Eliozu community. Eyewitnesses reported that the trouble began when officials from the state Ministry of Health were conducting a medical outreach for women at the Eliozu Health Centre. Supporters allegedly loyal to factional Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, arrived at the venue to investigate the gathering. The venue is located near Amaewhule’s residence, which leads the 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike.
Supporters of the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA, Chijioke Ihunwo, who are loyal to Fubara, reportedly prevented them from accessing the venue, resulting in a heated argument and subsequent clash. Stones were thrown, and the medical outreach was disrupted.
Anti-riot policemen arrived at the scene and fired tear gas to disperse the opposing groups. During the mayhem, a child was tear-gassed and became unconscious. The medical outreach was then relocated to a state-owned facility at the Waterlines axis of Port Harcourt.
Reacting to the incident, Obio/Akpor CTC Chairman, Chijioke Ihunwo, accused Amaewhule of leading policemen to disrupt the outreach. Ihunwo stated, “This morning there was an incident at the Eliozu Health Centre where the former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule led some security men to disrupt a programme by the Ministry of Health. A few minutes later, some policemen came and started beating up our women, shooting tear gas at pregnant women who were at the Health Centre. We want to say that Obio/Akpor Local Government Area will not be under siege. We want to call on the President, Bola Tinubu, that the Inspector General of Police and the Minister of the FCT are tarnishing the image of your government.”
