The police have arrested a Port Harcourt–based medical doctor and pastor for allegedly plotting to assassinate the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyeson Wike.
It was gathered that operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team arrested Tombari Gbeneol, founder of Life Forte Chapel Church, Port Harcourt, in connection with the alleged assassination plot.
The arrest reportedly followed the interception of a telephone conversation between Gbeneol and the immediate past Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), Tammy Danagogo.
Sources said the recorded conversation allegedly detailed plans to bring in Israeli nationals to carry out the assassination, with discussions said to have extended to approaching Governor Siminalayi Fubara to fund the assassination.
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A senior security source said: “The content of the call was considered a grave national security threat. That was what triggered the immediate action by the IRT.”
Following the intelligence report, operatives of the IRT, led by the Commissioner of Police Ahmed Sanusi, arrested Gbeneol, who has reportedly been in detention for about two weeks.
Sources further disclosed that Danagogo has gone into hiding, with security agencies intensifying efforts to track and arrest him.
Confirming the development, Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin on Monday, said the “suspect was in custody and investigations were ongoing.”
He declined to provide further details on the suspect’s identity or the specific nature of the alleged offence.
