Gunmen kill two in Rivers

• APC, PDP bicker over murder of rights lawyer, ANEEJ urges probe

Gunmen again struck in Rivers State yesterday, killing a retired army officer, Captain Chukwuemeka Judge Adigwe, at Rumueme Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Council.

Another man, whose identity was yet to be known, was gunned down at Federal junction, on Agip Road, Port Harcourt.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have traded accusations over the murder of Port Harcourt-based human rights lawyer, Ken Atsuwete.

Also, a rights group, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), yesterday, deplored Atsuwete’s assassination.

ANEEJ’s Executive Director Rev. David Ugolor, said the slain Itsekiri-born activist “championed the cause of the downtrodden and defenseless as well as was in the trenches for freedom and liberty.”

He remarked: “Even though we are saddened at the martyrdom of our friend and colleague, ANEEJ and the Human Rights Community will remain focused, undaunted and continue to vigorously pursue the purpose and vision for which Ken Atsuwete lived and died.

“Ken Atsuwete was an indefatigable fighter and committed to the struggle for Ubuntu in Rivers state and Nigeria in general.”

Ugolor called on the Federal Government to set up an independent and high-powered panel to probe the assassination with a view to bringing the perpetrators of the dastardly to book.

Rivers State PDP chairman, Felix Obuah, restated his appeal to politicians, particularly, members of the opposition APC, not to play politics with issues of security. He said the senseless killing of Atsuwete is a great loss to all Rivers people.”

To Davis Ikanya, APC chairman, the murder of Atsuwete, who was one of the leading counsels to APC chieftain, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, who is presently incarcerated, it was clearly a case of premeditated murder.