Chuks Collins, Awka
Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressives Party(YPP) who represents Anambra South senatorial district in the National Assembly, who was viciously attacked by yet-to-be identified gunmen Sunday afternoon at Nkwo market area of Enugwu-Ukwu in Njikoka council of Anambra State has narrated how his convoy was attacked by the gunmen.
According to him, the bullet proof vehicle he was riding in at the time actually saved him from the hail of the assassins’ bullets from hitting him.
Senator Ubah’s testimony came on the heels of police confirmation of the shocking unprovoked and unprecedented attack.
The Anambra State Commissioner of Police -Mr Echeng Echeng consequently led key operatives to Enugwu-Ukwu for on the spot assessment visit to the scene.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Anambra,-DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the attack to journalists in Awka, describing the incident as unfortunate and sad.
Ubah’s media Assistant, Kameh Ogbonna, who spoke in a statement said his principal escaped the assault because his vehicle was bullet proof.
Hear him, “If not for the bullet proof jeep the senator was ridding in, he would have been dead by now.
“We were passing Enugwu Ukwu junction when they hit us from all sides and as I speak with you Obum, the special aide to the senator is dead.
“About seven security operatives were hit by the assassins bullet…”
The PPRO said though details of the incident were still being pieced together, operatives were already on ground while the situation was being monitored very closely.
He said that further details would be communicated to the public as soon as necessary, butburged all to be calm and go about their legitimate duties peacefully.
In his reaction, Gov Chukwuma Soludo, condemned the attack on Ubah’s convoy.
Soludo whose condemnation came in a statement by his Press Secretary, Christian Aburime expressed his administration’s fully determination to “wipe out every act of criminality in the state.”
He saw the attack as the “last ditched-effort of a sinking boat” by criminal elements in the state; and reassured the people that all security agencies were on full alert to fish out the perpetrators of the henious attack who would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
The Governor commiserated with Senator Ubah, and the families of all the victims. He also commiserated with the police authorities for the officers who also lost their lives.
Also commiserating with Senator Ubah, Gov Soludo and families of the victims, Hon Dozie Nwankwo who represents Njikoka/Anaocha/Dunukofia Federal Constituency, expressed deep pains over the sad incident.
Hon Nwankwo lamented that this was at a time every citizen of the state was jubilating that Gov Soludo’s security format has eventually restored stability to the entire state.
He urged all not to be fainthearted, but to move ahead with determination.
Already, identities of some of the victims of the attack have been revealed.
Though still unconfirmed, eye witnesses put the number at ten(10)
They included Senator Ubah’s most trusted aide and personal treasurer, Mr Ikechukwu Odum; the Senator’s personal assistant, Mr Goodness Mathias.
Then a passer-bye
identified simply as Onowu Agu-Ukwu Nri who had just drove into the Enugwu-Ukwu scene to drop a relation who visited him. The friend was pick a vehicle to Lagos Monday morning.
Unfortunately he ran into the gun assault.
According to eye witnesses, “He was driving a big SUV, so the assassins may have thought he was in the same convoy with the senator, and he was gunned down.”
Eye witness put the other casualties at six Mobile Police Men who were riding in the convoy of the Senator, and a driver, who was said to be driving one of Ubah’s SUVs.
The eyewitnesses said the gunmen rained bullets sporadically at every car in the Senator’s convoy, especially his security aides cutting them down with rapid firing, and giving them no chance at all.
The witness noted that “In the confusion, all the vehicles were just ramming into each other.
” But because the vehicle the senator was riding in was a bullet proof car, his driver was able to manoeuvre out of the series of damaged cars and drive away, even as the gunmen persistently rained bullets at it…”
