Chief of Staff to Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Chief Nyeesom Nwike, narrowly escaped death weekend, when unknown gunmen sprayed his vehicle with bullets.
Although Nwike escaped unhurt, his driver was wounded, while the front door window of the car was stained with blood when THISDAY sighted it at the Government House.
While the Joint Task Force is alleging a failed assassination attempt, another said since the attackers succeeded in stopping the vehicle by puncturing the tyres with bullets, they would have killed him if assassination was their objective.
They, therefore, posited that Nwike was to have been kidnapped by the gunmen, which informed their shooting other parts of the vehicle, except where he sat.
The jeep, marked RVGH 586, had about 12 bullet holes, three of which pierced through the windscreen, while others punctured the fuel tank, spilling fuel on the floor of where it was parked.
Three of the tyres of the vehicle were flat, with the one at the back on the driver�s side blown open with bullets.
Indications that Nwike escaped unhurt is the fact that he was in his office yesterday, attending to some official business, while his driver is receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the state.
Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Ireju Barasua, confirmed the attack and said investigations have commenced to ascertain those behind the attack.Spokesperson of the JTF, Major Musa Sagir, sympathised with victims of the attack, adding that they took precautionary measures to prevent it.In a related development, Barasua also confirmed that two persons have been arrested in connection with the robbery on Risonpalm staff, where a policeman and three others were killed weekend at Ubima.She said the police were intensifying investigations on the matter, adding that the attack was on a 504 station wagon and not a bullion van as initially reported.THISDAY however, learnt that the arrest of the suspects was sequel to the information passed by the Chief Accountantto his wife, who he called from the hospital to name who shot him.He was alleged to have told the wife to �take care of the children. As I am calling you now, I am about to die, so be strong and take care of the children.” He allegedly told his wife that he was shot once and when he stood up to run, he was shot again on the chest by the person he named, following which the police raided the suspect’s house and met his younger brother who he allegedly gave his own part of the money and took to his heels.