Posted by By Christian Ochiama and Goody Osuji, Enugu on
The Vice Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency, Hon. Uchenna Igwesi, narrowly escaped what he described as "attempt on his life" by armed bandits.
The Vice Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency, Hon. Uchenna Igwesi, narrowly escaped what he described as "attempt on his life" by armed bandits.
Igwesi, in a telephone chat with the Daily Sun, said two armed young men accosted him Monday as he was coming out from a bank premises at
Ebeano Estate, New Haven Junction, Enugu.
According to him, "as I was coming out of the bank, these two young men obstructed my way, threatening to kill me. They were brandishing their guns at me. I had time to notice that they were under influence of psychothropic sustances.
"From their language and mannerism, I suspected they might be cult members from one of the tertiary institutions. They later confirmed this when they boasted that their gang will deal with me.
"As this was going on," Igwesi said, "There was divine intervention when the police appeared on the scene, shot one of them and arrested the other."
The House of Representatives member said that he "suspected an assassination attempt" and expressed worry that " whoever was behind it may want to try again because I was informed that soon after the incident a cult group met to review their strategy on
how to nail me."
Igwesi, who sounded worried and frightened on telephone, said, "I have reported the matter to the Executive Governor, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani and the Police Commissioner in charge of Enugu State," adding that the commissioner reacted swiftly by attaching "six armed police men to provide me with round-the-clock security cover."
Later Tuesday, Igwesi, at a press briefing, gave a more graphic detail of what transpired. Said he: "I had just withdrawn some money from the bank. The moment I entered my car, I saw a Mercedes V-boot car, green in colour, parked behind me. Two of them(armed bandits) walked up to me and held the two doors. They asked me to give them the vehicle.
The money I withdrew was on the seat. But then, I thought I knew one of them. When I looked at his face, I asked him are you Agu? He said ‘shut up'. I pleaded with them in my usual manner. They now pulled the gun. For 40 minutes I was with them. Eventually, we ended up at the Ogui Road Police Station."
When Daily Sun contacted the police public relations officer, Mr. Shehu Adamu, for confirmation of the report, he refered us to his deputy, Mr. Mike Abattam, who insisted that he was not competent to comment on the matter.