Rivers: Dakuku Peterside escapes assassination; DSS officials battle assassins for 30 minutes; Wike’s Chief of Staff allegedly leads death squad, arrested

Rivers State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the April 11, 2015 election, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, on Sunday, escaped assassins’ bullets by a whisker.
But his police detail, Corporal Emma Esi, was not so lucky as bullets hit him while trying to shield his boss.
He was seriously injured and has been rushed to a popular hospital in Port Harcourt.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) battled the assassins for about 30 minutes before their Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) were demobilsed.
When they approached the vehicles, the Chief of Staff to Governor Nyesom Wike, Emeka Woke, was seen inside one of the vehicle. He was allegedly the one leading the killer squad.
Woke was immediately arrested by DSS officials.
Peterside, the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), described the attack, which happened on his way from the Port Harcourt International Airport, as horrifying.
Peterside, who was in his car with Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, Rivers State APC Chairman and Hon H.O. Asita, Deputy Governorship candidate of the APC in the April, 2015 election, said: “We escaped the assassins bullets by a stroke of luck”.
“Two Jeeps belonging to Emeka Woke, Nyesom Wike’s Chief of Staff carrying two unknown gunmen trailed us to UTC Junction and opened fire on my car. Our car, however, did a detour to first Aba Road, then old GRA with the two jeeps still trailing us. We drove to the DSS office to seek refuge and on getting to the gate, the unknown gunmen opened fire again at the SSS men on guard.
“The exchange of fire between the DSS men and the assailants lasted for more than 30 minutes. In the course of exchange of fire, my Police detail, Cpl Emma Esi, was shot at and seriously injured. This is a very ugly experience but I thank God that my colleagues and I escaped unhurt.
“When the DSS men demobilised the two jeeps, we found out that the man at the back of the car, who was identifying us to the assailants, is Wike’s Chief of staff, Emeka Woke. He has been arrested by the DSS.
“Today’s experience is not only terrifying but also shows the parlous state of security in Rivers State. If I can be engaged openly by gunmen for nearly an hour in the heart of Port Harcourt, only God knows the fate that will befall members of our party and those sympathetic to our predicament. What is happening today in our dear state is not only horrible but also constitutes serious national security risk.”
Peterside added that it is now evident that the governor wants to kill him and that he is prepared to do everything possible to eliminate him.