Stephen Ukandu,
The Police in Rivers State have dissociated the brutal killing of a former student leader, Mr Endwell Ejindu, from the escalating political crisis in the state.
According to Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Rivers State, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the ex-student leader was killed by suspected cultists.
Police dismissed any link with the killing and the ongoing political fued between Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, and his estranged godfather, Nyesom Wike, and their foot soldiers.
”Ejindu was attacked and killed in the late hours of Tuesday by gunmen suspected to be cultists.
”The murder of the victim is unrelated to the current political crises in Rivers state,” she said.
Late Ejindu was the former Student Union President, Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt.
He was killed along Ula-Upata Road, Ahoada East.
Initial reports linked the killing to clashes between rival political factions struggling for the control of the 23 local council offices in the state.
An eyewitness, who identified himself as Samson, told newsmen that Ejindu was murdered in cold blood by a group supporting a prominent politician in Ahoada.
He said that the incident happened shortly after the victim left the Ahoada-East council secretariat where he joined other youths to protest the tenure extension of the outgoing council chairman.
“Ejindu boarded a motorcycle at about 7.00p.m. on Tuesday, and was later ambushed by three gunmen along Ula-Upata Road.
“The gunmen opened fire on him, and he was killed instantly while the motorcyclist sustained gunshot wounds,” he said.
The refusal of the former Local Government Chairmen whose tenure expired Tuesday, generated tension in the state.
