The Chairman, Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bro. Felix Obuah, has expressed the party’s concern over the reported proliferation of arms and ammunition, and recovery of large quantities of arms, ammunition, as well as other dangerous weapons from political thugs, cultists, armed robbers and kidnappers in the state.

Bro Obuah in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Jerry Needam commended the efforts of the various security agencies in recovering the items from their illegal users.

He explained that PDP as a responsible and law-abiding party does not have any link with the users and has not procured any of such items for anyone, as it does not have political thugs that it sponsors.

The Rivers PDP Chairman said he could rightly recall that in 2014, the former Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, released hardened criminals, kidnappers and cultists, who were under trial, and set them free without allowing them go through trial, wondering why he (Amaechi) took such action, if not for political reasons.

Obuah also alleged that Senator Magnus Abe of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in April this year directed his supporters to take up arms. “Our understanding of this was an invitation for their thugs to use arms already procured and were in their possession to cause mayhem in the state,” he said in the statement issued on Friday in Port Harcourt.

“The PDP has not minced words about its disapproval of use of arms or any lethal weapons in political activities in the state or anywhere else. In fact, the PDP and Governor Wike have continued to demonstrate their abhorrence of criminals, kidnappers, cultists and any act of violence and threat to peace of the society,” the statement said.

It added: “Pursuant of this, the Governor has commendably and without reservation, supported security agencies to tackle violence and insecurity of any kind in the state.

“It is also of note that the State’s 8th Assembly, in line with the zero tolerance for criminality by the Governor, passed into law the anti kidnapping bill, prescribing capital punishment for those found guilty of kidnapping in the state.”

Rivers PDP reiterated that it will continue to distance itself from any act of criminality, and will uphold its averred principle of No to violence, No to thuggery, and No to illegal use of Arms and Ammunition.

“We therefore call on the relevant security authorities to be more proactive on efforts to recover these deadly items from wrong hands for our state and the society to be free, peaceful and safe,” the statement said.

It urged the police “to commence investigation into the call by Mr Abe and the APC leaders for their supporters to take up arms in the state.”

•Photo shows Bro. Obuah.