By Jimitota Onoyume
PORT HARCOURT: SECRETARY of Kolokuma Opokuma local government area, Mr Lloyd Ineye Owanaro was among several others that sustained deep machet cuts when the former Chairman of the Council, Mr Ebikitin Diongoli allegedly stormed the Council secretariat in the company of some thugs to forcefully resume as Chairman.

The former Chairman it would be recalled was sacked by the state House of Assembly over alleged gross misconduct, an action he challenged in court. The issue is currently at a High court in Port Harcourt.

Meantime, staff of the council and residents in the area fled for safety as the thugs literarily held the local government headquarters under siege for hours. Narrating his ordeal in the hands of the thugs at a hospital, the Secretary of the Council, Mr Owanaro said some youths allegedly loyal to the former Chairman inflicted matchet cuts on him when they stormed the secretariat in company of the former Chairman.

“ I am the Secretary to the Kolokuma Opokuma local government. I was in the office when the former Chairman, Ebeketein Diengolo, came with over two hundred youths brandishing all kinds of weapons. They inflicted matchet cuts on me several times. They broke my car. I had about N250,000 in my car which they took. They also went with my laptop.”

Another victim, Okobaire Iyabrefa who also spoke at her hospital bed at the Federal Medical Centre said the former Chairman and his thugs allegedly beat her up and in the process, she lost her two months old pregnancy. Iyabrefa who is the Confidential Secretary of the new Chairman of the Council, Mr Ebiyirin Otubo said they thought she had the key to the Chairman’s office and did not want to release it.

The state Police Commissioner, Mr Hillary Opara who later met with the new Chairman of the local government said troops had been deployed to maintain peace in the area. He enjoined all parties in the crisis to give peace a chance. He enjoined the new Chairman to assist in promoting the peace. On his part, the new Chairman said it was worrisome that after fifteen letters had been written to the police on the issue no serious action had been taken to prevent repeat of the situation.

According to the Chairman, the latest incident was not the first time the former Chairman was allegedly disrupting peace in the local government with his supporters. According to him, since the matter was already in court it was necessary to allow the court come up with a final verdict on it.