Unidentified gunmen reportedly attacked Odoata Central School in Ihiala, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, where the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was scheduled to hold its rally.
It was gathered that APGA was preparing to hold a political rally in the area when the gunmen visited, at the same time the governor’s convoy was arriving, while the gunmen engaged the security operatives in the governor’s convoy.
“The governor’s convoy was held for about one hour, while gunshots were ratcheting everywhere in the area,” a source had said.
In a statement on Tuesday, Eze said, “Our attention has been drawn to the false report in the media alleging that the convoy of the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano was attacked by gunmen today in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
“We wish to inform the general public that the report is a blatant lie without a shred of truth in it. The fact is that when some gunmen engaged security operatives in a shootout in Ihiala today, Governor Obiano was attending a pre-scheduled political rally in Ogbaru Local Government Area along with Prof Chukwuma Soludo, the standard bearer of the All progressives Grand Alliance in the November 6, 2021 gubernatorial election in the state.
“The Ogbaru campaign was highly successful with a large turn of party members and supporters who came to reassure Prof Soludo and APGA of their support in the coming election. There was not a single incident of violence in the campaign venue and its surroundings and Governor Obiano and his fellow party men and women all went home peacefully after the rally.
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The report that Governor Obiano’s convoy was attacked is obviously false and should be disregarded by well-meaning members of the society.
“Governor Obiano deeply regrets the shootout at Ihiala today and the attendant loss of lives. He calls on all the politicians involved in the ongoing electioneering campaign in the state to join hands with him in calming the political temperature of the state in order to ensure a peaceful and fair election on November 6, 2021.
Earlier, it was reported that APGA was preparing to hold a political rally in the area when the gunmen visited, at the same time the governor’s convoy was arriving, while the gunmen engaged the security operatives in the governor’s convoy.
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DSP Toochukwu Ikenganyia, the Anambra State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer had confirmed that there was an attack in Ihiala.
He said: “The attack happened at Odoata Central school, beside St Martins Church, Ihiala. It happened at about 9:30am.
“We recovered one AK-47 rifle, two magazines with 30 rounds of ammunition and a Toyota Hilux vehicle from the attackers.
“The Police and military are currently on ground now while mop up operations are ongoing. Normalcy has since returned to the area,” PPRO Ikenga said.
When the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Mr C. Don Adinuba, was contacted, he confirmed the report, but refused to talk about the attack on the governor.
He said: “A combined team of policemen and soldiers this afternoon repelled an attack by unknown gunmen at Odoata Primary School, Ihiala, where the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was scheduled to organize a campaign rally for the November 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra State.
“The gunmen came on various motorcycles and in three vehicles, namely, a Toyota Lexus 350 ES with registration number EKY 765 EX, Toyota RAV4 with number JJJ 434FP and a Ford van whose number could not ascertained at the time of this report because it caught fire during the exchange of bullets between the gunmen and security forces.
“The gunmen, unable to withstand the superior fire power of the soldiers and police officers, quickly ran into the large premises of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital which is directly opposite the campaign ground.
“They suffered serious injuries, even though they managed to shoot a gallant soldier”, according to an eye witness who did not want his name disclosed in the media for fear of his safety,” Adinuba said.
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