Former Commissioner for Information, Dr Emma Okah says the shooting at innocent women who were sharing palliative rice in Omagwa, in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State yesterday is unacceptable and stands condemned.
Dr Okah who stated this today in a press statement issued in Port Harcourt in reaction to the attack on praying women at Omagwa, said this sad incident, coming at a time when Nigerians are groaning under the pains of escalating economic circumstances, cannot be justified under any guise.
“It is particularly disturbing that the attack was inprovoked and the only offence of the innocent and unarmed women was that they gathered to pray and share the rice donated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to alleviate growing hunger and poverty in the land”, Dr. Okah said, noting that this irresponsible and wicked act against women or indeed anyone for that matter must stop.
While urging the police and other security agencies to up their game in Ikwerre Local Government Area and fish out the perpetrators of this violence, Dr Okah noted that Governor Siminalayi Fubara has been doing well in the protection of lives and property of residents of Rivers State and urged the security agencies to maintain this status as it is the best for all.
According to Dr Okah, “there is no excuse for attacking these women and those who did it must be ashamed of themselves. He regretted that some of the women sustained various injuries while trying to escape from the gunmen. Sadly, our women got a dose of venom instead of food to eat and feed their children.
While sympathising with the injured women, especially those who are receiving treatment in medical facilities instead of fetching rice, Dr Okah charged the Chiefs, elders, politicians and people of Omagwa Community to work together in harmony and be vigilant to protect their community against invasion and frightening violence in the future.
