Senate committee to visit shot senator in London

Senator Magnus Abe

THERE are indications that the Senate Committee on Police Affairs will pay a visit to the lawmaker representing Rivers South-East in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe, in London.

Abe was allegedly shot with rubber bullets by operatives of the Rivers State Police Command after they invaded the College of Arts and Science in Obio/Akpor, the venue of a rally organised by the Save Rivers Movement.

A source close to the lawmaker said the committee was planning to travel to London to get Abe’s version of what happened at the venue of the rally.

The source, who pleaded anonymity, told SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday that the committee had reasoned that since they had interviews with the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu, and the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, it was necessary to also speak with the victim of the police invasion.

“The Senate Committee on Police Affairs will visit the senator in a London hospital. We are aware that the committee is on a fact-finding mission. The committee has spoken with the police commissioner and the chief of staff of Rivers Government House.

“They (senate committee) have also visited the scene of the incident at the College of Arts and Science. They are going to London to get more facts about the incident from Senator Magnus Abe,” the source stressed.

It was learnt that the lawmaker, who is currently recuperating in the hospital, had begun to talk after the incident on Sunday, January 12.

Meanwhile, a group known as Ogoni Youths Next Project has condemned the ‘sponsored’ protests against Abe in Ogoni and Okrika, describing the development as shameful and unfortunate.

The group, in a statement signed by its facilitator, Mr. Kadilo Kabari, and Secretary, Mr. Saro-Neebani Legborsi, described the demonstrations against Abe as a reminder of the past where Ogoni people were used in the ‘90s to kill their leaders, including the execution of the Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others by a military tribunal.

Download National Dialogue Committee's Reports (in PDF)
Follow on Twitter to receive updates every hour
Don't miss the next news item - LIKE our Facebook page