The Rivers State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Kenneth Kobani, and a member of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Gabriel Podomson, have been arrested for allegedly stockpiling arms ahead of 2007 poll.
Investigations by our correspondent showed that the two suspects were arrested by the State Security Service, following a tip-off that they had stored arms in their houses in Bodo in Gokhana Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects were said to be owning rival cult groups to assert their political dominance in the area.
While Kobani allegedly owns the Dewell cult group, the lawmaker manages Degbam rival secret cult association.
It was learnt that the clashes between the two rival groups since August had left 12 persons dead.
The rivalry between the two groups reached its climax last week when a man was beheaded in Bodo.
It was gathered that the murder of the unidentified victim forced the State Security Service to probe violence in Ghokhana LGA.
The SSS findings allegedly implicated the two politicians, leading to their arrest.
As at press time, the suspects were being detained at the state office of the SSS in Port Harcourt.
A source said in confidence that they would soon be charged to court.
When contacted, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Magnus Abe, said, �I have no such information.�
The Director of SSS in the state, Alhaji Kola Adesina, also said he would not comment.
But as at press time, there were rumours that a huge sum of money was found with one of the suspects.
All attempts to ascertain the allegation were unsuccessful.