Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri
Many people were Saturday evening, feared killed following heavy shooting by gunmen who raided the Akokwa, Imo State country home of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for Ideato Federal Constituency and spokesperson of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere.
The attackers reportedly set his house on fire along with vehicles in the compound.
PDP, in a statement, has called for thorough and Immediate investigation of the incident which it said was a well-coordinated attack.
The statement made available to Ikengaonline read in part: “Imo PDP alerts security agencies, Nigerians, International Community about sponsored killings, arson going on at the Akokwa residence of Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, PDP candidate for Ideato Federal Constituency
“This has resulted in the killing of an undisclosed number of persons. Also, buildings are reported to have been set ablaze.
“Our efforts to get back to our candidate, Ikenga Ugochinyere, who was present at his residence when this attack began and who had personally alerted us to the attack, has proven abortive. However, a torrent of messages, a while ago, from Ikenga’s close aides bore some deeply pathetic lines like: “Everywhere is on fire! They are killing us! We are going!”
“Imo PDP calls on security agencies to immediately intervene and quell the attack on our candidate and our Party members at his residence in Akokwa.
“Nigerians and the international community are to recall that on December 23, 2022, there was an attack on the convoy of our candidate by clearly-identified agents of the Imo State Government.
“It is shocking that despite our demand for the arrest and prosecution of those involved in that onslaught, nothing has been done by security till this moment. Today represents a dark day for us in Imo PDP and Imo State at large,” PDP said.
