Bloody Clash In Asaba During Protest Against Ex-Governor Uduaghan

From Ochei Matthew, Asaba
Delta State Government House’s gate on Wednesday turned into a battlefield when people who came to protest against the former governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, were attacked at the Government House gate in Asaba.
The invaders beat the protesters and tore their placards, chasing them off the premises. Mr Fejiro Oliver, an online reporter who led the protesters was also manhandled and forced to flee.
Trouble started shortly after the protesters converged at the Cenotaph, off Okpanam Road, Asaba, where they got a security report that some people planning to disrupt the protest by attacking the protesters were around the Cenotaph and there was going to be trouble.
However, the protesters decided to go ahead with the protest and relocated to Government House. But as soon as they arrived there they were quickly dispersed by the attackers, who expressed anger over the protest.
Oliver, who fled into the Government House, kept making frantic calls to communicate with security agents. Shortly after, the protesters converged again after a reinforcement of the police arrived. Then the attacking group allegedly loyal to Uduaghan quickly dispersed.

The protesters were however intercepted again by the other group, who stopped them around Interbau flyover.
When journalists arrived on the scene, several buses belonging to the anti-Uduaghan group were lined up by the road, and members stood around expressing anger. Policemen also stood by. According to some of them who spoke with our reporter, two Toyota Camry cars loaded with people had stopped their buses, harassed them into discharging and set fire on one of the buses before they ran off.
“They laid ambush for us and set fire on one of our buses. They ran off when the police came and some people said they are hiding near the bush in front. We don’t know what they plan to do if we go there”, one of the protesters, who said they all came from Ughelli, told journalists.
Reacting on the matter, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Mr Charles Aniagwu. denied that the protest was sponsored by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
“I am just hearing from you that there is an anti-Uduaghan protest. I am not aware of it and it definitely cannot be associated in any way with the governor,” Aniagwu said.
Meanwhile, the police provided police protection for the protesters and escorted them all the way from Asaba to Ughelli to avoid further attacked.