Outrage over attack on Ifeanyi Ubah by gunmen

Pamela Eboh, Awka and Phil Akose

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi were among notable Nigerians who condemned Sunday attack on Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah by gunmen which claimed at least seven lives.
This is as Ubah Monday revealed how he narrowly escaped death in the hands of assassins and named his two aides that were felled during the tragedy.

Sen. Ubah (YPP-Anambra South) confirmed the deaths of some of his personal and security aides during Sunday attack on his convoy.

Ubah’s convoy was attacked around Nkwo Enugwu Ukwu Market axis of Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra on its way to Nnewi his country home on Sunday night.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that gunmen opened fire on the convoy and left many members of the convoy dead including other persons at the scene of the incident.

The senator, who confirmed the incident to newsmen on Monday in Awka, said the assassins killed one Obum Ikechukwu and Goodness Mathias.

Ubah added that some of his security aides from the Police and Department of State Services were also killed.

DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Anambra State Command, confirmed the incident but did not give the figure of the victims.

‘’The Commissioner of Police, Mr Echeng Echeng visited the scene and there were blood stains at the place indicative of the fact that the attack was bloody, but to give the number I cannot say anything on that.’’

Meanwhile, Governor, Soludo, has condemned the attack on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s convoy.

He also commiserated with the families of the dead victims.

The governor stated these in a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, on Monday.

While condemning the attack, Soludo said the government was fully determined to wipe out every act of criminality in the state.

He noted, “This is the last ditched-effort of a sinking boat by these criminal elements.”

He assured that all security agencies are now on full alert to fish out the perpetrators of the attack and be made to face the full wrath of the law.

The statement read, “It was reported on Sunday evening that Dr Ifeanyi Ubah narrowly escaped bullets of some gun-wielding men who attacked his convoy at Enugwu-Ukwu road in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State.

“The government is fully determined to wipe out every act of criminality in the state. This is the last ditched-effort of a sinking boat by these criminal elements.

“All security agencies are now on full alert to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous attack, who will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

“The governor also commiserates with Dr Ifeanyi Ubah and families of his aides who lost their lives as well as the State Commissioner of Police, for the policemen who also lost their lives.”
Similarly, the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has strongly condemned the shooting at Enugu-Ukwu, Anambra State, yesterday targeted at the convoy of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, describing it as “unfortunate and condemnable”.

Speaking to newsmen at the Abuja Airport, Obi said he was saddened when he heard about the news, especially when lives were lost. He called on the perpetrators of such crimes nationwide to have a re-think about their actions, which he described as “injurious to the growth and development Nigeria urgently needs now that suffering abounds in the land.”

Obi, who described most of the shootings going on in every part of the country as one of the cumulative effects of bad leadership over the years, said that the best way to tackle them was to go to the root causes of discontent in the land and nip them in the bud rather than pretending that Nigeria has been fair to Nigerians.

Part of his words: “I have continued to lay emphasis on the urgent need for enhanced security and protection of life and property in our society. I reiterate my unwavering commitment to put an end to all forms of violence in different parts of the country by seeking the root causes, under my watch, when elected the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Violence and killings of Nigerians under any guise whatsoever will not be accepted or tolerated under my watch as President.”

Commiserating with Governor Chukwuma Soludo, he encouraged him not to relent in his efforts to restore sanity to the state.

Obi also commiserated with the Senator Ifeanyi Ubah and the affected families over the painful incident and loss of lives. He said: “I deeply commiserate with my brother, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, and extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones in this ugly incidence.”

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress, APC in Anambra State has condemned the attack on the senator representing the Anambra South Senatorial Zone, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.

Although not officially confirmed, it was gathered that no fewer than six policemen attached to the senator’s convoy were killed during the attack.

In a statement on Monday, the APC State Publicity Secretary, Mr Okelo Madukaife, condemned the attack and urged the security agencies to rise to the challenge of fishing out the masterminds and perpetrators.

Madukaife stated that success will be recorded only when government and security agencies, update the state regularly on steps of the investigation until it is concluded with results.

The party also commiserated with the families of the deceased and the Anambra State Police Command whose officers were killed in the attack.

The statement read, “The ferocious firearms attack on the motorcade of the Senator Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah, representing Anambra South Senatorial District and seeking reelection to the Senate, February 25, 2023, is ‘unAnambralike’ and condemnable.

“Since the end of Nigeria’s Second Republic, and invariably since creation, Anambra State has not witnessed any significant partisan political violence and that has counted positively for the state.

“We are unable to speculate, in the time being, regarding the motive of this dastardly act, which has claimed roughly half a dozen lives and left many injured, with vast properties destroyed.

“We would also resist the temptation to name suspects, and urge caution for those focusing only on trends of the recent past because it could be misleading in the circumstance.

“We condemn this action in very strong terms and urge the security agencies in the state to rise to the challenging, but inescapable task of fishing out the masterminds and perpetrators.

“We implore the state government to put on the garb of urgency in understanding that there is a lot of work to do on security issues in the state, particularly in the area of intelligence, stepping down distractions and side attractions.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Sen Ubah, his family, and the political class of Anambra State who need to campaign in tranquility in the coming general elections.”