A member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State, Isaiah Thomas, has accused members of the Rainbow Coalition, a political group led by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, of burning his family residence in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.
Mr Thomas made the allegation in a video posted on Facebook after the incident at his family compound in Omuoko village, Aluu, where he said his mother, grandmother and tenants were also attacked.
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“This is showing us that Nyesom Wike and his group, the Rainbow Coalition, do not mean well for Rivers State,” Mr Thomas said without providing evidence that the coalition was responsible for the alleged attack.
“I am barely 30-plus years old. You want to kill me and hijack my system, but it would not work.”
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He alleged that the attackers targeted the compound because of his political activities with the ADC, saying his family members and tenants suffered injuries and lost property in the incident.
“My tenant; he lives here with his wife. The second son is barely four months old. They do POS. They burnt the house, burnt the cash. My mother and grandmother were beaten blue black; on what ground?” he said.
Mr Thomas described himself as the chief whip of ADC in Ikwerre and the party’s coordinator in the affected ward.
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He vowed to continue holding party meetings at the compound despite the incident.
“As a matter of fact, I’m holding an ADC meeting here again next week. Heaven that wants to fall tomorrow should fall today; let’s die and go to heaven,” he said.
Police confirm incident, begin investigation
The police spokeswoman in Rivers State, Blessing Agabe, confirmed that the incident occurred but said it was investigating to establish the cause of the fire.
Ms Agabe said, “Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the cause of the fire outbreak.”
When asked about Mr Thomas’ allegation that armed men had invaded the compound, asked for him and subsequently set the building ablaze after learning that he was absent, Ms Agabe repeated that the investigation was ongoing.
She did not disclose whether any suspect had been arrested.
Attack followed ADC meeting
According to a report by Punch, more than five armed men allegedly stormed the community around 2 a.m. on Wednesday and headed for Mr Thomas’ family residence, asking for him.
He was reportedly not at home.
The newspaper reported, based on accounts from residents, that the attackers allegedly ransacked the premises, looted property and set the building ablaze before fleeing.
One tenant said the attackers identified themselves as security personnel before asking for Mr Thomas. He alleged that they subsequently broke windows and doors, set fire to the building and started shooting.
Another tenant, who operates a Point-of-Sale business, alleged that money was taken from him and that his aged parents were manhandled during the incident.
The incident occurred about 24 hours after campaigns officially opened for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections, according to Punch.
Mr Thomas said the attackers had asked about an ADC meeting held at the compound the previous day.
“They asked me to tell them what was happening in the compound. They broke into my son’s house. It was later that I heard that the meeting my son held with youths of Omuoko and other places was the cause of the problem,” Punch quoted his mother, Uchechi, as saying.
ADC, council condemn incident
The Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Charles Nwobodo, condemned the incident and said the council would work with security agencies to identify those responsible.
“If it is political, as they said, I totally condemn that, where our people will lose their houses and other property in the name of politics,” Mr Nwobodo said.
The ADC state publicity secretary, Chizi Enyi, also condemned the incident and called for a thorough investigation.
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The party said its members had been threatened and attacked for participating in political activities but stressed that it would not encourage retaliation or vigilantism.
Mr Wike, a former governor of the oil-rich Rivers, leads the Rainbow Coalition, which Mr Thomas accused of involvement in the incident.
However, the allegation against Mr Wike and the coalition has not been independently established.
Mr Wike’s spokesman, Lere Olayinka, did not respond to calls and a text message seeking his reaction.
Mr Thomas is a member of the ADC in Ikwerre, where the party’s vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, hails from.
The police said further information would be made public as the investigation progresses.
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