A band of daredevil gunmen on Tuesday attacked Odoata Central School in Ihiala, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, where the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was scheduled to hold its rally.
APGA was preparing to hold a political rally in the area when the gunmen struck at the same time the governor’s convoy was arriving. The gunmen immediately engaged the security operatives in the governor’s convoy.
“The governor’s convoy was held for about one hour, while gunshots were ratcheting everywhere in the area,” a source said.
Meanwhile, DSP Toochukwu Ikenganyia, the Anambra State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer confirmed that there was an attack in Ihiala.
He said: “The attack happened at Odoata Central school, beside St Martins Church, Ihiala. It happened at about 9:30am.
“We recovered one AK-47 rifle, two magazines with 30 rounds of ammunition and a Toyota Hilux vehicle from the attackers.
“The Police and military are currently on ground now while mop up operations are ongoing. Normalcy has since returned to the area,” PPRO Ikenga said.
When the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Mr C. Don Adinuba, was contacted, he confirmed the report, but refused to talk about the attack on the governor.
He said: “A combined team of policemen and soldiers this afternoon repelled an attack by unknown gunmen at Odoata Primary School, Ihiala, where the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was scheduled to organize a campaign rally for the November 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra State.
“The gunmen came on various motorcycles and in three vehicles, namely, a Toyota Lexus 350 ES with registration number EKY 765 EX, Toyota RAV4 with number JJJ 434FP and a Ford van whose number could not ascertained at the time of this report because it caught fire during the exchange of bullets between the gunmen and security forces.
“The gunmen, unable to withstand the superior fire power of the soldiers and police officers, quickly ran into the large premises of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital which is directly opposite the campaign ground.
“They suffered serious injuries, even though they managed to shoot a gallant soldier”.
Ever welcome news of the year…
Actually, some gunmen invaded the ground to be used for campaign by APGA at Ihiala.
The attack happened around 9:30am. At this time, the Governor was still in the governor’s lodge, Amawbia.
That means the Governor’s convoy was never attacked.
However, the Governor still attended the campaign rally at Ogbaru LGA
It is quite saddening and frightening for a sitting governor to be attacked by his own people. I wonder what Nigeria will become in the coming years. Terrorist must be crushed at all cost no matter their political, religious and ethnic affiliation, terrorist is terrorist and must be fought with all might.
If truly these political leaders are servants (which they should be) and power belongs to the people, and the people say they don’t want election. Is the right thing not to sit down with the people, know why and address it. Everything is force down here because of laziness!