Suspected gunmen on Friday morning broke into the private home of a Lebanese furniture maker in Ogbunabali area of Port Harcourt and shot him dead
According to witnesses, the armed men raided the house of the Lebanese located on Ogbonda Street at 2.30am, after using explosives to blow up the gates. A source in the neighbourhood told our correspondent, who visited the area, that the attackers numbering over 20 were decked in military fatigue.
The source said, �It was so scaring when we started hearing shooting from heavy guns. It was as if a war had broken and the soldiers were pounding the enemies. We locked ourselves inside when we started hearing the shooting in the neighbourhood. Before long, the attackers had broken into the duplex and shot the man at close range.�
The armed men also wounded a relation of the Lebanese after they collected unspecified amount of money from him. Not long after, some gunmen also attacked a divisional police station at Elekahia and wounded three officers, who were on duty.
The police station is located a few metres to the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt. It was speculated that the attackers might have raided the station to secure the release of two physically-disadvantaged persons, who were earlier arrested and interrogated over alleged possession of firearms.
The suspects were arrested following a tip-off during the week and were later transferred to the Force Criminal Investigation Department. On arrival at the station, a police source who pleaded anonymity said that the suspected gunmen fired indiscriminately at the officers on duty.
The duty officers, it was learnt, responded with superior fire power against the invaders, although three of them were hit.
When contacted, the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Felix Ogbaudu, confirmed the death of the Lebanese but said that the command was yet to release his name to the public.
Ogbaudu said the attack could have been triggered by a failed kidnap bid, armed robbery or assassination. He said that the slain Lebanese was a businessman engaged in the production and distribution of furniture in Nigeria.
On Friday evening, suspected gunmen also attempted to abduct an expatriate as he was being escorted by armed policemen. The gunmen emerged from Kaduna Street in B Line area of the street around 5.20 pm in an unmarked bus and opened fire on the car, which was being driven by the expatriate.
Pandemonium ensued while the unidentified expatriate�s escorts foiled the kidnap bid. Frustrated, the gunmen started shooting into the air as they made an escape bid.