The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) campaign council in Ebonyi State has confirmed the death of the police inspector attached to the governorship candidate of the party, Ibrahim Kudu, who was shot on the chest when hoodlums suspected to be assassins attacked the standard bearer, Professor Bernard Odoh, on Thursday last week.
In a statement signed by the director, media and publicity, Odohzhia Ebonyi campaign council, Mr Charles Otu, said Kudu was shot when the campaign team was returning from a rally at Ezzeagu in Ishielu local government area.
He said the motorcade of the campaign team ran into the ambush of the hoodlums at the Rest House axis, along the Enugu/Abakaliki Expressway.
Otu said Kudu died earlier yesterday at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, AE-FUTHA from injuries sustained during the gun duel with the assassins.
He said that Kudu, a native of Niger State and a devoted Muslim was posted to Professor Odoh from the Special Protection Unit, SPU, Base 4 Port Harcourt, Rivers State. “His body will be laid to rest today according to Muslim rites in his home state,” he said.
Otu in the statement also alleged that operatives of Ebubeagu Security Network in Ohaukwu local government area of the state had shot and killed one Elom Oscar Chinonso, a native of Ndiagu Orie, UmuOgudu Akpu Ngbo community. He said that the young businessman was reportedly killed in his shop.
The APGA campaign council spokesperson said that a member and an ardent supporter of APGA from the area who spoke on the incident said the victim was shot by armed Ebubeagu operatives who rode on a branded APC Sienna vehicle.
“Again, our hearts are severely grieved that the State Government has continued on its mute mode while watching rampaging Ebubeagu militia kill innocent citizens of the state all for power grabbing. The party called on the Police authorities to expedite action in arresting those behind the attack on the governorship candidate’s convoy for speedy justice.
“We reiterate our earlier persistent calls on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba to bring his words to effect that all deadly quasi security outfit like Ebubeagu will not feature or partake in the activities leading to and during and after the February 25th and March 11th general elections in Nigeria. For us, this is one attack, too many.”
When contacted, the police public relations officer (PPRO), SP Chris Anyanwu said the alleged killing of APGA supporter by Ebubeagu Security Operatives has not been reported to him and expressed concern over the recent attacks of gunmen in the state.
Anyanwu said that the command will soon convene a security meeting with political parties, council chairmen and other relevant bodies in the state on the need for political tolerance adding that the command will not support any political party.
In his reaction, the commander Ebubeagu Security Network, Mr Nnanna Ujoh debunked the allegation of Ebubeagu’s involvement in the killing of Mr Elom Chinonso. He said the opposition is fond of attributing every attack on them to Ebubeagu without any proof adding that the attack on Odoh from evidence gathered so far was carried out by unknown gunmen.
“Those who attacked the APGA governorship candidate has already circulated a video of the attack which has exonerated Ebubeagu. Political parties should not be hasty in their conclusion whenever an attack occurs,’’ he said.
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