Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on Friday, called on security agencies to identify and arrest miscreants who attacked his convoy and set fire to the office of the African Democratic Congress in Ubima community, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

It was gathered that gunmen, on Friday, attacked Amaechi’s convoy on the road between Ubima and Omuanwa in Ikwerre LGA.

The former Rivers State governor was in his community for his e-registration as a member of the ADC.

However, before Amaechi arrived in the community around 12:15 pm on Friday, suspected thugs had already mounted a roadblock, turning back buses identified as conveying ADC members attending the visit.

The thugs had earlier, on Thursday night, set ablaze the ward office of the ADC in Ubima, Amaechi’s hometown.

The miscreants, who reportedly invaded the community with heavy firepower to stop the former governor’s visit, shot sporadically into the community and riddled the gate of Amaechi’s family house with bullets.

However, when the ADC leader eventually arrived to enter the community, the armed thugs reportedly stopped his convoy, but security operatives in his team engaged the attackers.

When the security operatives displayed superior firepower, the armed thugs fled into the bushes.

Addressing hundreds of party members and supporters who were present to witness the e-registration exercise, Amaechi called for calm.

He thanked the Commissioner of Police, the Director of the Department of State Services, and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for their swift intervention during the attack on his convoy.

Amaechi, who spoke after taking a tour of the burnt party office, said the security agencies showed professionalism in their response.

He urged members of the party not to resort to violence, noting that it was the responsibility of the police to unravel, arrest, and prosecute those behind the attacks.

“I will thank the commissioner of police and the director of DSS. They showed a lot of professionalism immediately I made contact with them.

“In fact, I wasn’t expecting that kind of cooperation. I thought they would be behind these criminals and not render support. But all of us will agree that the police came out, the NSCDC came, DSS came out.

“So we are grateful to them. I’m grateful to them, especially those of them who are here,” Amaechi stated.

He added, “But they must also know that this cannot continue. The way they will show us that this cannot continue is that they must prosecute those who are involved in this crime.”

Amaechi also urged the state governor to make efforts to provide adequate security across the state to avert anarchy.

He encouraged members of the party to commence massive mobilisation, noting that the party’s ultimate target was the presidency.

He said, “I have been a governor, and I know the consequences of not protecting the lives of people. The people will begin to protect their lives by themselves because they don’t want to die.

“But for now, everybody should calm down. Everybody should thank the Commissioner of Police. Everybody should thank the Director of SSS and the Commandant of NSCDC.

“Our role is to be calm, to be peaceful. We are marching to Aso Rock. What they are doing is a distraction. What they are doing will not put food on your table.

“We are hungry. If you are not hungry, tell them I am hungry. People are dropping dead every day because of hunger. And there are a few people who are stealing our money, and they say we should keep quiet.

“We can no longer keep quiet. ADC Rivers State, you must register en masse. You must make sure that we have enough members to surprise them. On election day, they will know whether we will vote or not.”

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she would obtain details of the incident and revert to our correspondent.

However, she had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report on Friday afternoon.