Rivers ADC Chieftain Accuses Wike’s Camp of Burning Family House

African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain in Rivers State, Isaiah Thomas, has accused supporters of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike of attacking and setting his family home ablaze in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.

Thomas said the incident happened at his family compound in Omuoko village, Aluu, in the early hours of Wednesday.

He alleged that the attackers were armed and came looking for him after an ADC meeting was held at the compound.

Thomas, who described himself as the chief whip of the ADC in Ikwerre and the party’s coordinator in the affected ward, made the allegation in a video shared on Facebook.

He claimed that his mother, grandmother and tenants were assaulted during the attack. He also alleged that properties and cash belonging to residents of the compound were destroyed.

“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.”

Thomas said he was not at the compound when the alleged attackers arrived.

According to him, the incident was connected to his political activities and his decision to host ADC meetings at the family residence.

He said the attackers reportedly wanted to know his whereabouts before turning their attention to the buildings within the compound.

“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.

Reports from the community indicated that the attackers arrived at about 2 a.m. and allegedly moved directly to Thomas’ family residence.

Residents said the men were carrying guns and were asking for Thomas.

One of the accounts from the compound suggested that the men initially presented themselves as security personnel before demanding information about the ADC chieftain.

They were then accused of breaking into some of the buildings, damaging doors and windows and setting parts of the compound on fire.

A tenant who operates a Point-of-Sale business was also said to have lost money during the incident.

The tenant reportedly claimed that his elderly parents were assaulted while the attackers searched the premises.

The attack came shortly after an ADC meeting reportedly took place at the compound.

Thomas said the meeting involved youths from Omuoko and surrounding areas and that the political gathering may have been the reason the compound was targeted.

His mother, Uchechi Thomas, also spoke about the incident and said the attackers appeared to be searching for her son.

She said the family did not know the identities of those behind the attack.

The incident has raised concerns within the ADC, particularly because it occurred at a time when political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections are beginning to intensify.

The ADC state publicity secretary, Chizi Enyi, condemned the attack and called for a full investigation.

The party said some of its members had faced threats over their political activities. It, however, urged its supporters not to respond with violence or take the law into their own hands.

The Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Charles Wobodo, also condemned the incident.

Wobodo said the council had moved to assess the situation and would cooperate with security agencies to establish what happened.

“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.

He reportedly directed the council’s security officials to visit the community following the incident.

However, the Rivers State Police Command has confirmed that the incident occurred but said it had not established the circumstances surrounding the fire.

Police spokesperson, Blessing Agabe, said investigators were working to determine what caused the fire and what led to the incident.

“Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the cause of the fire outbreak.”

The police did not confirm whether armed men invaded the compound or whether the fire was deliberately started.

No arrest has also been publicly announced in connection with the incident.

The command is expected to establish whether the fire was accidental or deliberate and determine whether the political allegation made by Thomas has any basis.

Thomas, however, has remained defiant despite the attack.

He said the incident would not stop him from continuing his political activities at the compound.

“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 concluded.

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