Ebonyi: Thugs attack convoy of APGA guber candidate, Odoh

 

.As Police confirm attack on  Provost

 

By Clement Nnachi (abakaliki)

 

The convoy of the Governorship Candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Ebonyi State Professor Benard Odoh, was on Thursday attacked by political thugs during a campaign visit to Izzi Local Government Area of the State.

 

Professor Odoh made the disclosure in abakaliki the state capital while narrating his ordeal before newsmen.

 

He thanked God that no life was lost during the incident.

 

The governorship candidate showed newsmen one of the RAV 4 Jeeps  riddled with bullets by the political thugs with Registration Number  580 GH.

 

The Professor of Geo-Physics  restated that he was on a campaign visit to his supporters at Izzi when political  thugs attacked the convoy and rained bullets on their vehicles.

 

“As early as 6am this morning (Thursday), I received distressed call from the Cordinator of my Support Group Dr Laz Eze, informing me that the Chairman of Izzi Local Government Area, called to warn that no meeting should take place in Izzi Local Government”

 

“The Chairman of the Council said he was under pressure from the Government, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) called that he was under pressure from the Government”

 

“I am the Governorship Candidate of APGA,  I am in this race to govern everybody, if I can not get to Izzi, it means I can not govern Ebonyi State”

 

“Thats why I defied  their orders and threats, went ti Izzi, we were comfronted by the thugs, we have Rights to reach out to our people”

 

“They shot at one of their cars, and shattered the vehicle, our Jeep were riddled with Bullets”

 

“We went there with  Police Personnel and officials from the Department of Security Services (DSS)”

 

‘They have taken the war direct on us, we want to let the world know what is happening in Ebonyi State”

“We are not cowards, we are not fools, they can not box every one , peeople have the Right to make choice who becomes their leader”

Professor  Odoh emphasized that he lodged an official complaint to the State Police Command Headquarters.

In a telephone interview, the State Commissioner of Police CP Aliyu Garba , confirmed that he has spoken with Professor Odoh on the incident.

CP Garba said that he will get back to the newsmen with more details.

Also, The Provost of the Federal College of Education Technical (Isu) Ebonyi State Professor Reuben Okechukwu,  on Thursday escaped death by whiskers when Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers ambushed his convoy.

 

It was gathered that the incident occurred near the boundary of Isu/Onicha Local Government Area and Agba in Ishielu Council Area of the State.

 

Our Reporter gathered that Prof. Okechukwu was in a Mercedes Jeep with registration number: Abuja  371 TS,  leading a Convoy of about five Vehicles from his office at the temporary site of the college in Isu , back to Abakaliki, the state capital after close of work in the evening.

 

Accompanying the Provost  in the car was the College Librarian, Mr. Lawal Shuaibu, a Police Orderly, two Aides to the provost and the Driver.

 

According to an eye witness who prefered anonymity, the  incident occurred as the motorcade of the Provost  were  slopping on the Agba bridge where sand sacks were used to block the road.

 

The eye witness disclosed that a young unarmed man sprang out, waving down the car, while suddenly a group of armed gunmen trooped out from nearby bush and targetted the car.

 

He opined, ‘As the driver attempted to reverse back, they open fire on the Provost’s car and the car was swerved into the bush.

 

“The  first gun shot hit the Librarian, Mr. Shuabu at back of his neck while the second wounded the driver on the forehead”

 

“While inside the bush, the occupants of the car opened the doors and ran for their lives as another bullet hit Mr. shuabu again at shoulder back and he fall down crawling away”

 

“The driver who sought  a track road met another group who mobbed him with stones and sticks till sudden arrival of team of police men from Isu division of Nigerian Police who rescued and took him to hospital at Isu”

 

The eye witness revealed  that the  second vehicle was a Tundra van Conveying TETFUND Consultants from Abuja who came to oversee bid opening in the College reverse immediately back to Isu Police Division to alert the police who swift into action and disorganized the assailants.

 

Before the arrival of Police team from Isu and subsequent arrival of the team from the State Command, Abakaliki, the hoodlums had already looted and burnt down the Mercedes Jeep.

 

Investigations revealed that the police teams combed the bushes and rescued the provost, the librarian and the police orderly while the other two Aides to the provost escaped through the river to Agba Community from where they were assisted back to Abakaliki.