The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Kimo, has ordered a 24-hour security guard around the premises of the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mrs. Beatrice Itubo.
It will be recalled that a group of suspected assassins invaded the residence of the state NLC chairman at about 3am on Friday with the intention to eliminate her.
But the assassination attempt was foiled and one of them, who had a gun, was lynched by a mob after his gun was taken away from him by the courageous brother of the labour leader.
Barely 24 hours after the incident, Kimo has ordered that a 24-hour guard be mounted at the Rumuoghalu, Obio/Akpor residence of Mrs. Itubo.
The directive, according to Kimo, was to protect the NLC leader’s life after she escaped an attempt.
Speaking with Southern City News on Saturday through the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, the state CP said a police delegation led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Mr. Vincent Brown, had earlier paid a solidarity visit to Itubo.
“There is a directive that a 24-hour guard be mounted at the residence of the NLC leader. The home of the union leader is currently being patrolled by policemen in order to ensure that her life is safe.
“The directive came after the state Police Command dispatched emissaries to the residence of the state NLC chairman to sympathise and show solidarity to her after the failed attempt on her life,” he added.
The CP narrated how one of the suspected assassins was killed by a lynch mob, adding that a locally-made short gun was recovered from the suspect.
He added that investigation had been intensified by the state Police Command to apprehend other members of the gang and bring them to book.
When contacted, Itubo confirmed to Southern City News that security had been beefed up around her area, adding that she saw some policemen patrolling her residence and other places close to her house.
“Yes! They have beefed up security around my place. Though I am not around now, I saw them (police) patrolling when I was going out,” the state NLC chairman stressed.
Meanwhile, the state Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, Dr. Chika Onuegbu, has condemned the assassination attempt on the state NLC chairman.
Onuegbu urged security agencies to fish out the culprits and ensure that they were investigated and prosecuted.
A statement from the state TUC chairman, read, “The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria condemns in its entirety the assassination attempt on the life of Comrade Beatrice Itubo (State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Rivers State).” Punch
