Heavily-armed security operatives on Sunday morning raided the Abuja home of Mary Ekpenyong, an aide to the Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio.
The operatives suspected to belong to the State Security Service (SSS), arrived Mrs. Ekpenyong’s home at about 10.30am.
A private security man guarding the compound located in Jabi District said the armed men forcefully entered the house after breaking down doors with heavy equipment.
“It was about exactly 10.30 am that six armed persons came to the compound and ask for Madam and I told them the family traveled to Akwa Ibom,” the security man told Next Edition.
“When I asked them to identify themselves, they shouted at me to shut up. One of them asked me to produce the keys to the house and threatened to deal with me if I don’t oblige them.
“They told me they came to find the stockpile of arms and money hidden in the compound by the senate minority leader.
“Since I couldn’t produce the keys, they brought out some equipment and forced the doors open and ransacked all the rooms.”
The security man said the operatives painstakingly searched the rooms for over three hours while holding him hostage.
But a source at the headquarters of the People Democratic Party (PDP) hinted that the federal government was targeting Mr. Akpabio because of his influence at the Senate.
The source, who pleaded not to be named because he is not authorised to speak on the matter said the party received intelligence report that the government would soon clamp down on key opposition figures in the country.
READ MORE: Akpabio holds constituency briefing, empowerment programme
“As soon as the Supreme Court delivered the ruling that restored order in our party, the APC-led government became jittery because with the PDP bouncing back, they would not have a smooth time lying to Nigerians any longer,” the source said.
“With the PDP now at peace, they are afraid of what would happen in 2019 and are desperately trying to cow our senior members.”
“We learnt that they are targeting high ranking members of the party including the National Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and Senate Minority Leader, Godswil Akpabio, among others.
“They are also angry because of the failure of the Senate to confirm the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu and they believe that the PDP senators are the ones blocking the confirmation.”
Attempts to speak with the Police Force Public Relations Officer, Moshod Jimoh, and the spokesperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wilson Uwujaren, were unsuccessful as calls to their telephones were not answered.
They did not also respond to text messages sent to them at the time of filing this report.
Next Edition could not place a call to the SSS because they do not have an official spokesperson whose contacts are known to the media.
