The Coalition of United Political Parties has condemned the attempt on the life of its National Spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere, and urged security agencies to swing into action and arrest the attackers.
The PUNCH reports that gunmen attacked Ugochinyere’s country in the Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State on Saturday, killing four persons.
The gunmen also reportedly killed a yet-to-be-identified uncle of the CUPP spokesperson who raised the alarm over the attack in a seemingly distressed tweet on Saturday afternoon.
In a press conference on Sunday, the co-spokesperson for CUPP, Mark Adebayo, said about three weeks ago, one Mr. Chinasa, an aide of the Governor of Imo state, Hope Uzodimma, had openly threatened the CUPP spokesman.
Adebayo further alleged that Ugochinyere’s contest for the House of Representatives seat of Ideato Federal Constituency had infuriated the “evil powers” of the state, leading to “the plan to stop him by assassination”.
He, however, said the CUPP will hold the state government responsible for the attack against its spokesman.
Adebayo also demanded the immediate arrest of Mr. Chinasa while alleging that the police were aware of his threats but had done nothing until the attack yesterday.
“We state unequivocally that we are holding the government of Imo state solely responsible for this heinous crime and demand the immediate arrest of Mr. Chinasa, whose threats against Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere is already in the public domain, and the Police authorities are aware of this but did nothing on the threats until he succeeded in carrying out his dastardly threats.
“The Coalition of United Political Parties demands… that the Inspector-General of Police order the immediate arrest and thorough investigation of Mr. Chinasa who threatened Barrister Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere three weeks ago, as the number one suspect in this horrific attack.”
CUPP also alleged that the exit roads out of the Akwokwa community had been placed under surveillance to ensure his (Ugochinyere’s) assassination.
“Even as we speak, we have it on good authority that all the exit roads from Akwokwa have been put under surveillance by some personnel of the Imo state government with direct instruction to some hoodlums, to assassinate Ikenga whenever he tries to leave the community. Therefore, there is an immediate need for the police and Department of State Services to quickly mobilize their men to protect Ikenga before these evil characters carry out their wicked plans.
“Nigerians will recall that a former governor of Imo state, Chief Rochas Okorocha, once said that the Imo state government is actually sponsoring those being referred to as unknown gunmen. What happened to Ikenga yesterday has further given credence to that allegation.”
Adebayo said the leadership of the party had agreed to escalate the incident to relevant local and international organisations to ensure that justice was served.
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