APGA Governorship Candidate Escapes Death in Ebonyi as Gunmen Attack Convoy, Kill Driver, 5 People Missing

APGA Governorship Candidate Escapes Death in Ebonyi as Gunmen Attack Convoy, Kill Driver, 5 People Missing

  • The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ebonyi state, Bernard Odoh, has escaped death
  • Some gunmen reportedly attacked Odoh's convoy along the Enugu/Abakaliki expressway on Thursday night, February 2
  • The APGA guber candidate's driver died from the gunshot injuries he sustained while others are receiving treatment in the hospital

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Ebonyi state - Gunmen reportedly attacked the convoy of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ebonyi state, Bernard Odoh.

The Ebonyi APGA governorship candidate's media aide, Charles Otu, confirmed the incident, saying it happened on Thursday night, February 2, The Punch reported.

Attack on Bernard Odoh/Ebonyi APGA Governorship Candidate
The convoy of Bernard Odoh, Ebonyi APGA governorship candidate, attacked. Photo credit: Nwanchor Chibuike Nwanchor II
Source: Facebook

Otu said his principal was returning from a campaign rally when they ran into the ambush at the Rest House area along the Enugu/Abakaliki expressway.

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He added that the gunmen opened fire and shot at the driver of the Sienna conveying Odoh.

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Meanwhile, another report by Nigerian Tribune indicates that Odo’s driver who was shot later died due to the severity of the gunshot injuries he sustained.

The report cited Otu as saying that Odoh’s Police orderly and another officer who maneuver the vehicle out of the area also sustained bullet injuries.

Those injured are receiving treatment at a hospital in Abakaliki, the state capital.

Car set ablaze, five persons mission

Giving further details, Otu said one of the cars in the convoy was set ablaze and added that about five persons are still missing from the attack.

However, the police spokesman in the state, SP Chris Anyanwu, said he was not aware of the attack.

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Legit.ng gathered that the attack was the second major attempt on the life of the APGA candidate.

APGA reacts to attack on Bernard Odoh's convoy

Meanwhile, the APGA chapter in Ebonyi state has reacted to the incident which it attributed to the "unwarranted suspected Ebubeagu militia.".

The party in a statement released by Nwanchor Chibuike Nwanchor, its spokesperson, said the attack was "among several attempts of the ruling APC government to suppress Ebonyi APGA whose message has penetrated every nook and cranny in Ebonyi State."

"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," the statement read.

The party called for the disbandment of the Ebubeagu militia in Ebonyi state. It also urged the security agencies to "checkmate the evil machinations of the Ebubeagu militia.

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"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," the statement concluded.

SDP governorship candidate in Rivers Magnus Abe escapes death

In a related development, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Rivers state, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, escaped assassination on Monday evening, January 30.

Unknown gunmen attacked Abe's campaign train at the Akinima community in the Ahoada-West local government area of the state.

It was gathered that the SDP guber candidate and his team had earlier visited Ubeta and other communities in the area before heading to Akinima, the headquarters of the local government area, when they came under heavy gun attack.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Nurudeen Lawal avatar

Nurudeen Lawal (Head of Politics and Current Affairs Desk) Nurudeen Lawal is an AFP-certified journalist with a wealth of experience spanning over 8 years. He received his B/Arts degree in Literature-in-English from OAU. Lawal is the Head of the Politics/CA Desk at Legit.ng, where he applies his expertise to provide incisive coverage of events. He was named the Political Desk Head of the Year (Nigeria Media Nite-Out Award 2023). He is also a certified fact-checker (Dubawa fellowship, 2020). Contact him at lawal.nurudeen@corp.legit.ng or +2347057737768.