Unknown Gunmen Murder APC Lawyer In Rivers

Anayo Onukwugha

— Aug 29, 2016 4:07 pm | Leave a comment

Unknown gunmen in the early hours of Monday murdered one of the counsels to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, and popular human right activist, Barrister Ken Atsuwete, in Aluu community in Ikwerre local government area of Rivers State.

Atsuwete, who is one of the leading cousels to the detained chieftain of the APC and former chairman of Asari-Toru local government area of the state, Hon. Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, was abducted by the gunmen from his residence, who later shot him and threw him into a drainage.

A source in the community, who pleaded for anonymity told LEADERSHIP that the legal practitioner would have survived if help came his way as at the time he was shot and dumped in the drainage.

The source said, “If help has come as at the time he was shouting for help, he would have survived. Due to the security situation in Aluu, nobody was brave enough to come out to assist him when he was screaming for help. He eventually gave up the ghost few minutes after he introduced his name as Ken Atsuwete and people cane to his aid.”

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Omoni Nnamdi, who confirmed the incident, said he is yet to get full details of the assassination of the legal practitioner.

In its reaction, the APC, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by its spokesman, Chris Finebone, insisted that the murdere of Atsuwete was politically-related and called on the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to ensure that they unravel those behind the heinous crime.

The statement reads in part, “We of the APC have been labelled as prophets of doom for telling the world that the Wike government in Rivers State is the architect of the insecurity that is ravaging the State. They stage-manage private conferences at huge costs to the Rivers taxpayer just to show that there is peace in the State.

“Just a few days ago, the NBA held its 56th Annual Conference here in Port Harcourt at a humongous cost to the the taxpayer. This morning, a very energetic, promising and vocal member of the NBA and popular human rights lawyer. Barr. Ken Atswete was gunned down in his home by assassins.

“They first of all took  someone in the same building last night and realising they had a wrong customer, they let the fellow go while they returned at about 5 am to snuff life out of Barr. Ken Atswete. The APC believes that this killing was political motivated because Barr. Ken Atswete was a leading counsel to APC chieftain, Hon. Ojukaye Flag-Amachree who is being persecuted by the Wike administration in Rivers State.

“We call on the Commissioner of Police, the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to leave no stones unturned in unraveling the criminals behind this dastardly act. This is one killing too many.”