Gunmen attack Ebonyi APGA guber candidate, kill driver, five missing, vehicles burnt

From Chinedu Nwafor, Abakaliki

Unknown gunmen, Thursday night, ambushed the Ebonyi governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ebonyi State, Professor Bernard Odoh, near Rest House, Okpoto, Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The attackers killed his driver, two persons in the convoy sustained gunshots injuries while his back-up Hilux van was set ablaze by the hoodlums.

Mr Charles Otu, the Director, Media and Publicity, of the APGa campaign council, in a terse statement, on Friday, alleged that the attack was carried out by a suspected Ebubeagu Security operatives.

Otu said: “Apga Ebonyi State Chapter Governorship candidate Professor Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh and his team were ambushed late this evening today by suspected Ebubeagu operatives near Rest House, Okpoto, Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

“An unmarked silver-coloured Sienna, loaded with suspected Ebubeagu militia with not less than 8 persons parked at the left flank of the road and opened fire with AK47 as soon as they sighted the leading pilot vehicle of the team.

“The pilot vehicle was shot at not less than 8 times before they cordoned off the Governorship candidate’s vehicle and riddled his Prado jeep with bullets.

“In the process, his driver was shot at and as he bled profusely, the ADC swiftly manouvered and drove off the vehicle with all tyres already punctured and flat down till he managed to get to Pele Filling station.

“As we write, not less than five persons were feared missing while two sustained serious gunshots injuries.

“Efforts are on by security team to rescue the missing persons while those already rescued have been rushed to the hospital for treatment.”

Also reacting, the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the State, has condemned the attack, and equally accused the Ebubeagu Security outfit of being behind the attack.

A statement by the Publicity Secretary of the party, on Friday, Mr Chibuike Nwanchor, also called on the Inspector General of Police to disband Ebubeagu immediately.

The statement reads: “The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA in Ebonyi State has received with dismay the unwarranted suspected Ebubeagu militia Ambushed attack on its guber candidate, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh where one of his drivers was killed, five missing and two others sustained various degrees of injuries on Thursday 2nd January, 2023 near Rest House, Okpoto, Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

“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 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 were they are to protect the lives of Ebonyi Citizens but 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.”

Reacting, the Ebonyi State Ebubeagu Commander, Mr Friday Nnana-Ujor, denied the allegation that the attack was perpetrated by Ebubeagu operatives.

He insisted that the attacks was perpetrated by unknown gunmen, disclosing that the command visited the scene of the attack Friday morning and exhibits recovered  showed that the hoodlums operated with AK47 riffles, saying that Ebubeagu operatives only use pump action riffle.