By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
Former Anambra state governor, Sen. Chris Ngige, escaped death on Nov. 26, as his convoy was attacked on the Nkpor-Nnobi Road, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state by gunmen dressed in police and army uniforms.
Ngige, erstwhile minister of Labour and Employment was however not in the convoy at the time the attack occurred but a policeman in the pilot car was shot and his gun and uniform taken away by the suspected assailants.
It was learned that an unidentified lady who was recording the incident was fatally shot by the gunmen.
A shop owner who raced to find out what was happening was also shot. He only lost a lot of blood and will be operated upon soon to remove the bullets.
Our source stated that the pilot car was riddled with bullets, adding however that no policeman was killed.
The escort leader who was shot has been operated upon and is expected to make full recovery, it was further gathered. The shop owner was lucky as the bullets didn’t lodge in his spine.
Public affairs analyst, Fred Chukwuelobe, who was Ngige’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS) in his days as Anambra governor, confirmed the shocking development.
Chukwuelobe equally wrote; “I just got off the phone with His Excellency and he confirmed the development, promising to do all he can to ensure that those injured receive adequate treatment.
He also commiserated with the family of the unfortunate lady who was killed while videoing the scene”.
SP Ikenga Tochukwu, Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Police Command, while confirming the incident on Thursday, said it has step up coordinated state-wide manhunt for the fleeing armed hoodlums.
“Preliminary information indicates that the officers in the convoy are attached to Sen. Chris Ngige, former Governor of Anambra State and former Minister of Labour and Employment.
“The recovered vehicle has been secured and taken into police custody for further investigation, as operatives intensify a coordinated state-wide manhunt for the fleeing armed hoodlums.”
