Unidentified gunmen launched a brazen attack on a convoy suspected to belong to influential political figure Chief Chris Uba, known as the self-styled godfather of Anambra politics.
According to a source as reported by Pmnews.ng, the assailants targeted the convoy at the UGA junction, opening fire and riddling the vehicles with bullets.
The source said: “We witnessed what happened. Chris Uba’s convoy ran into the men who were stationed at UGA junction, leading to a shootout.
“Uba was able to escape because he was riding in a bullet proof vehicle, but the policemen were not so lucky as they were killed.
“Val Ozigbo was coming back from Owerri with members of his family when he suddenly saw a convoy driving ferociously toward his own convoy, and attempting to edge him off the road. He quickly told his driver to clear off the road let the other convoy pass by.
“Shortly after they overtook Ozigbo, they ran into the gunmen at UGA junction who started shooting, and killed two policemen. Ozigbo who parked while the incident was happening, later learnt that the convoy that was attacked was that of Uba.”
Tragically, two police officers attached to Chief Chris Uba lost their lives in the attack. Miraculously, Chief Uba managed to escape unharmed, as he was reportedly traveling in a bulletproof vehicle.
In a twist of fate, another prominent politician, Mr. Val Ozigbo, narrowly escaped the onslaught. Ozigbo, a chieftain of the Labour Party, was returning from Owerri with his family when his convoy encountered the assailants. Swift thinking on his part and his driver’s part allowed them to avoid the attackers.
An eyewitness shared, “Uba was able to escape because he was riding in a bulletproof vehicle, but the policemen were not so lucky as they were killed.” The source also recounted how Ozigbo’s convoy smartly yielded the road, narrowly avoiding the assailants.
The motive behind the attack appears to be a kidnapping attempt on Chief Chris Uba, although the details remain unclear. Several individuals are reported to have sustained injuries, but it is yet to be confirmed if anyone was kidnapped.
In response to the incident, the Anambra State Police Command has issued a press release announcing an intensive manhunt for the attackers. The release, issued by DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, stated that armed insurgents infiltrated from a neighboring state, disguising themselves in military attire.
The police-led mobile Forward Operating Base swiftly responded to the scene, recovering a Lexus SUV used by the assailants. An improvised explosive device found in the vehicle was successfully defused. Additionally, an AK-47 rifle belonging to one of the slain officers was recovered.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye, commended the officers for their courageous efforts and declared that the fallen officers from the Enugu State Command would not have died in vain.
He urged his personnel to remain vigilant, assuring that technology would be utilized to track down the criminals responsible for the attack on police personnel.