•••Driver Killed, Five Others Missing
•••APGA Fingers Ebubeagu Operatives
By John Ugo, Awka
There is increasing danger across the states of the South East over the spate of killings in the area.
This is as residents and people in the zone now live in fear as Gunmen on Thursday night attacked the convoy of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ebonyi State, Prof. Bernard Odo.
Prof. Odo was said to have narrowly escaped death in the hands of suspected assassin but his driver was not as lucky and he died from gunshot injuries.
The suspected assassins were said to have swooped on Prof. Odo’s convoy as he was returning from a campaign rally.
The convoy ran into the attackers ambush at the Rest House area along the Enugu/Abakaliki expressway.
The Media Aide to the APGA governorship candidate, Mr. Charles Otu, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Abakaliki.
The gunmen, were said to have parked a Sienna bus along the road, from where they opened fire on the convoy aiming at the candidate’s vehicle, which glasses was shattered.
His driver was reportedly shot and bleeding which forced his Police orderly to maneuver the vehicle out of the area.
The driver was said to have later died due to gunshot injuries he sustained.
It was gathered that the orderly and three others sustained bullet wounds.
This is the second major attempt on the APGA candidate after he was attacked last year in Izzi Local Government Area where he was going for campaign.
Those injured are receiving treatment at a hospital in Abakaliki, the state capital
Mr. Otu, in a statement, said five persons are still missing form the attack.
He said one of the cars in the convoy was also set ablaze by the gunmen.
APGA said on Friday that five persons in the convoy of the governorship candidate attacked Thursday night were still missing.
According to the Publicity Secretary of the party Hon. Nwanchor Chibuike Nwanchor, the party condemned the attack pointing accusing fingers at Ebubeagu, the state controlled security outfit
The party confirmed the death of the driver of the candidate, adding that five are missing while two others sustained various degrees of injury during the attack.
“This is among several attempts of the ruling APC government to suppress Ebonyi APGA whose message has penetrated every nook and cranny in Ebonyi State.
“Recall that Ebonyi APC masterminded the beating of APGA supporters in Afikpo North, Ugwulangwu in Ohaozara LGA and the destruction of vehicles during APGA campaign at Izzi LGA sometimes last year.
“In the face of such sordid act, they persisted in laying ambush, fired to kill the Guber Candidate but succeeded in killing the driver while others sustained various degrees of injuries.
“It is now clear to everyone that the plan of the APC in the state is to use Ebebuagu militia to intimidate and destabilize the peaceful conduct of the election starting on the 25th February 2023.”
“We seize this opportunity to call for the disbandment of Ebubeagu militia in Ebonyi State and alert security agencies, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director General of the Directorate of State Security Services and the National Intelligence Agency ( NIA), to checkmate the evil machinations of the Ebubeagu militia whose planned destruction of lives and property may herald another round of bloodshed in the state as opposition parties will not fold their hands and watch members of Ebubeagu harm party supporters again.
“Where they are to protect the lives of Ebonyi Citizens the ruling APC government in Ebonyi has employed them to intimidate and destruct the peaceful conduct of the 2023 general election in Ebonyi.
“We wish to call on the APGA supporters in Ebonyi State to be committed, resilient, and never be distracted for we have made all the necessary plans and strategies to curtail this menace while we pray for the eternal rest of the deceased.”
