Six days to the November 11 governorship elections in Imo State, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Senator Athan Achonu, has been allegedly attacked in the state.
Achonu’s convoy was attacked on his way to St Peter’s Anglican Church, Obibiezena in Owerri North Local Government Area, where he was invited to attend the church’s synod.
It was gathered that his convoy allegedly ran into an ambush laid by some thugs, who had mounted a roadblock with an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC), an All Progressives Congress-branded Sienna, and a Hilux truck.
In a statement signed by Chibuikem Diala, the Director, Media and Publicity to Senator Athan Achonu Campaign Organisation and made available to Allnews in Owerri, Achonu said the tragedy was averted when the convoy of the Labour Party candidate for Saturday’s governorship election in Imo State, Senator Athan Achonu turned back
The release reads, “One Oladimeji, a police officer attached to the Tiger Base Police Squad, Owerri, led the team of rough-looking policemen and gun-wielding Ebubeagu security operatives.
“On approaching the roadblock, police officers in the Armoured Personnel Carrier started shooting at the convoy but missed the Wrangler SUV by the whiskers and hit the driver’s window of one of the bulletproof Lexus SUVs in the convoy. This could have resulted in a casualty if not for the fact that it was bulletproof.
“They were shooting sporadically in full public glare in broad daylight. Even after the Police Commissioner spoke to the police officer Oladimeji over the phone, he refused to listen to him, insisting that because Uzodinma was coming that way, he would not allow Achonu to pass.
“A young man identified as ‘TAKPE,’ backed by the police, was also shouting and threatening that the team must turn back, or else he would “destroy all the cars.” This scenario caused so much panic among the women in the convoy.
“To avoid further confrontation, the DSS and other security officers accompanying Senator Achonu exercised restraint and moved the candidate and his team to safety.”