The assailants’ car

A lawmaker representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Local Government of Abia State in the House of Representatives, Chief Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, on Tuesday escaped assassination.

But her driver, who used her Honda Sport Utility Vehicle marked EK 810 ABC was shot on his hand and ear. He was rushed to an undisclosed hospital where he is recuperating after receiving two pint of blood.

At a press conference on the development on Tuesday, Onyejeocha, who is seeking a re-election into the House, said she escaped by a whisker as she was not in the ill-fated vehicle.

She said before the incident, she had received a text message from an unknown person, telling her that he had been paid to assassinate her to pave the way for her opponent.

She claimed that she was worried that her opponents could resort to killing, saying that people should realise that power was transient.

She said, “Let the perpetrators of the dastardly act know that he that kills by the sword dies by the sword. I am a child of God and my life is in His hands.

“I think with the development, the electorate will know whom to entrust their votes to. There is no business for thugs in politics.”

Onyejeocha said the matter had been reported to the police, adding that she was confident that the police would fish out the assassins.

The lawmaker urged her supporters to remain calm and turn out en masse to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party in the rescheduled National Assembly elections on Saturday.

She also called on the security agencies to do something about the incident to bring the suspects to book to serve as a deterrent to others.

An eyewitness, James Amah,who was in the car, told our correspondent that the incident occurred at Lomara Junction, Umunneochi, about 8am.

He claimed that at the junction, three persons in a cream Toyota vehicle, blocked their vehicle and opened fire on the driver.

“After shooting the driver on the hand and ear, they took a cursory look at the jeep but when they discovered that we were the only two in the vehicle, they hissed and sped off. They did not take anything and did not ask for anything,” Amah added.

In his reaction, a deputy commissioner of police in Abia State Command, Mr. Kings Omire, confirmed the incident, saying the command had suggested that it was an assassination bid.

Omire said, “The incident took place in the early hours of today. It is believed that it was an assassination bid. They did not take anything. It was a narrow escape by the representatives’ member.

“We are investigating to ascertain whether there is any political motive in the attack.”

-Punch