Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike was reportedly manhandled by operatives of the Nigerian Police and the State Security Service in Portharcourt for attempting to prevent them from arresting a judge.

The DSS had gone berserk with a clampdown on judges across the country.

Multiple sources said the clampdown began in Gombe State where the SSS arrested Muazu Pindigi who served on the elections tribunal in Rivers State.

The operation continued in Abuja on Friday night into early Saturday morning.

In Abuja, the SSS stormed the the home Nnamdi Dimgba and Adeniyi Ademola, both of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, in their official residences located inside Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja.

Mr. Ademola was later arrested in the early hours of Saturday while Mr. Dimgba’s brother was assaulted by the operatives.

Both judges are neighbours on Samuel Ogbemudia street of the Apo quarters.

The official quarters of Walter Onoghen, who was recently recommended to President Buhari as the next Chief Justice of Nigeria, and Sylvester Ngwuta also of the Supreme Court were besieged by the SSS for several hours overnight.

In Rivers state, the officers reportedly stormed the home of the judge, whose identity Mr. Wike withheld, at 35, Forces Avenue, Port-Harcourt, the state capital.

A statement by Mr. Wike’s spokesman, Oraye Francis, said the operation was led by the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Francis Odesanya, and the Director of SSS, Tosin Ajayi.

The operatives, “rough-handled Governor Wike, pushing him around and injuring his hand,” Mr. Francis said. “A few of the operatives cocked their rifles and threatened to shoot the Governor.”

No reason has been officially given by the SSS for Saturday’s raids and the agency currently has no spokesperson.