The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers State, Senator Lee Maeba, has reacted to the gruesome attack on his residence.
Heavily armed oodlums in their numbers are said to have invaded the residence of the former Senator on Professor Abowei Street, GRA, Phase 3 in Port Harcourt on Thursday morning.
Speaking with reporters on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Maeba claimed that the hoodlums were after his life for supporting the Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
The former lawmaker said the gunmen injured at least three persons and vandalized about five cars during the deadly attack.
According to him, his neighbors had observed strange movements around his residence before the invasion.
The PDP chieftain said that a young man called him to warn him about the planned attack, adding that his house was attacked shortly after he went out to visit his mother-in-law.
He said: “This morning, there was some uneasy movement along this street. Some neighbours called my attention that they saw a lot of strange faces like a build-up of thugs.
“I don’t have a criminal life; my compound was empty. I am humble, I don’t do thuggery. I don’t participate in thuggery and I don’t hire thugs. So, I said what will thugs be doing on the street? And I dismissed it.
“Then, at about 9:00am, I said let me go and see my mother-in-law. But, before then, a young man called me with a number that I don’t know and told me that I have done him a favour before and that I should be careful if I am at home.
“That they have instructions from some quarters to attack my house and attack me. But, I dismissed it because I don’t have problems with anybody.
“I just drove out with my security personnel to see my mother-in-law. As I entered my mother-in-law’s house, my phone was ringing and my nephew picked up the phone and said my house is under attack.
“They shot at the gate and forced the gate open. They climbed the second gate and tied up the security man. They entered the compound and were shouting ‘where is he? Where is he? Only one bullet will solve this Atiku problem.”
Maeba added that: “My senior brother was standing somewhere there and they descended on him. The next thing they started doing was to use the boot of their guns to destroy the cars. They got to the front door (main house), and hit the door but they couldn’t succeed. So, they started retreating. You can see the destruction.
“My worry is what is my offence that people will come to my compound? Atiku does not live here. I only work for Atiku, yes. I am an Atiku’s supporter. What has that got to do with attacking my house in a bid to kill me? This is democracy and I am a Democrat.”