War In Port Harcourt. Marauding gangs force residents indoors


An emergency situation resembling warfare has broken out in Port Harcourt, the capital city of Rivers State, as militants and cultists embarked on ceaseless sporadic shootings.

Reports from the city last night indicated that the tense atmosphere created has led to total paralysis of both social and economic activities, leaving government helpless.

It could be recalled that cult groups and militants laid siege on the garden city shooting recklessly and burning houses, in what is believed to be a war of supremacy between armed gangs.

Eye-witnesses told our correspondent that the ceaseless shootings, which began two days ago, have forced residents to remain indoors both in the day time and at night.

One who pleaded not to be named told Leadership "The situation is not different from that of Baghdad in Iraq. We cannot go out of our houses. We were forced to leave our offices as early as 11.00 am."

He added, "You cannot ride in a flashy car because you can be stopped by well-armed boys demanding for the car or the money."

The residents of old GRA, near the Government House, called on President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to immediately declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, saying "Governor Celestine Omehia cannot cope. He has been overpowered by the militants. We know Peter Odili (former governor) caused this problem for him. He recruited and armed these boys to the teeth, and now he himself cannot enter Port Harcourt. If at all he comes, he sneaks to Government House where there is heavy security. "Please, tell Yar’Adua to help us by declaring a state of emergency so as to save our lives. Killing of human beings is no more a big deal here, and the sound of a gun is just like that in a film," he added.

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All these people peddling rumours. Rumour mongers go and sleep. There is crisis in every other part of this country. Why should the one in Portharcourt attract so much attention?

I live in Portharcourt. So far, all the stuff about gunshots and others are concentrated in some parts of the city - Iwofe, DLine, Ada George, Lagos street, Eleme junction etc. These places together accounts for just some 5% or less of the size of Portharcourt. Why on earth are you all killing yourself over nothing.

Where I live, I have never heard any single gunshot fired - talkless of sporadic gunshots. The place is densely populated too.

Make una leave the Delta alone! Face other pressing issues about Nigeria - Corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of society, let us deal decisively with ingrained problems rather than scratching the surface!

@ono

Did you even read what you just typed? did you see the places you counted as only?

Iwofe
D-Line
Ada George
Lagos Street
Eleme Junction

and as if that is not bad enough, you added "etc".


This is the kind of corruption we're talking about. Where armed violence can break out in excess of 5 spots in one state and somebody will say "nothing dey happen". This is the height!