By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
As the people of Imo state continue to bemoan the incessant killings and arsons on private and public properties especially the recent attack on the country home of the Spokesman of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Comrade Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and killing of four people in the compound, a chieftain of the Coalition, Otunba Mark Adebayo has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba to hold the Imo state government responsible for the dastardly act.
The family components of Comrade Ugochinyere, who is a Federal House of Representatives candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Ideato Federal Constituency in the 2023 general election was at the weekend attacked by Unknown Gunmen burning vehicles, houses and killing four persons including an uncle to the embattled political activist.
This is even as the CUPP Spokesman first raised the alarm of the attack in a “Save Our Soul message”.
The Save Our Soul message, titled: “EMERGENCY ALERT!,” was backed with several videos and photographs of the scene of attack at the weekend.
The SOS message read in parts: “This is to notify the general public that this may be my last acts as a human as my house in Umukegwu Akokwa is under heavy attack currently.
“As I pen this, all the cars in my house have been set ablaze and there is heavy shooting for the past 25 mins.
“Painfully, as I speak to you, I saw them kill my father’s younger brother, Uncle Dan.
“I pray and call for urgent help from anybody who can help.
“The attackers are shooting at every one in the house and this is an urgent cry for help.”
Prompt News reports this is not the first time Ikenga Ugochinyere, who has become a torn in the flesh of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in Imo State led by Governor Hope Uzodimma, would be a victim of attack.
But speaking on African Independent Television (AIT) breakfast programme Kakaaki on Monday, the 2nd Spokesman of CUPP Otunba Adebayo and Barrister Tochukwu Ohazuruike, Ugochinyere’s Associate, pointedly accused Imo state government of complicity in the attack and killings in the compound of the political activist in Umukegwu, Akokwa in Ideato North Local Government Area of the state.
According to Otunba Adebayo the comment of Governor Uzodinma on the attack and killings in the country home of his political opponent in Akokwa on Sunday is most unfortunate, pointing out that for the state governor who is the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to say that the attack on Ugochinyere’s home was as a result of his breach of the agreement he had with those who do not want elections to hold in the South East.
Said he: “We in CUPP call on the federal government especially the IGP to hold the Imo state government responsible for the attack and killings in Ugochinyere’s country home in Akokwa. From the account of Governor Uzodinma, he said that he has a security report that Ugochinyere’s home was attacked because he breached the agreement with those who attacked him that there will not be elections in Igbo Land and he (Ugochinyere) is contesting the same election “.
Speaking further Otunba Adebayo said: “We have it on good authority that all the roads leading to Ugochinyere’s country home in Akokwa, Ideato North Local Government are being guided and guarded by hoodlums paid by the state government and who are under strict instructions to kill Ugochinyere whenever he is seen”.
“We have made this information available to security agencies and we want to believe that the state government will come clean on this matter because we have an overwhelming evidence that point to the fact that Imo state government is behind Ugochinyere’s ordeal and we can prove it”.
Also speaking on the dastardly act, Barrister Ohazuruike who is Ugochinyere’s Associate insists that those who attacked the CUPP’s home has the backing of the government, adding that the evidences are out there who wants Ugochinyere dead.
“There are overwhelming evidence that Imo state Governor has a hand in the attack on Ugochinyere’s country home and killings in the compound including the CUPP’s uncle. The world will know that the killings in Imo state are not by Unknown Gunmen after all”.
“It is a public knowledge that one Chinasa Nwaneri, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Imo state on “Special Duties” have severally called on telephone have and threatened to deal with Ugochinyere for his criticisms of Governor Uzodinma. We have these evidence handy for the security agencies and we cannot wait for them to do the needful “, Barrister Ohazuruike posited.
