By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
No fewer than 30 gunmen on Saturday April 24, 2021 attacked and set fire on the country home of Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State at Omuma, in the Oru East Local Government Area of the state.
Uzodinma is from Omuma, the headquarters of the Oru East Local Government Area, which shares boundary with Oru West and Osu council areas of Imo West senatorial discreet.
Eyewitness from the community told our correspondent that the gunmen arrived in several vehicles incognito, dressed in black attire and military camouflage around 8:30am and began a shooting spree in the air before launching their rocket to rip the entrance of the gate open.
They reportedly set two vehicles parked outside and inside the compound ablaze, in the process of their attack.
An official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), who dared them was killed instantly.
Although, the fire affected only some parts of the building, another source who witnessed the incident said that neighbours of the governor, who rushed to the scene, helped in bringing the fire under control even before the arrival of fire fighters.
However, prompt response by a combine team of the military, police, Air Force and NSCDC saved further damage at the governor’s house, but a police sergeant, and another official of the NSCDC lost their lives to the superior gunshots of the hoodlums at the popular Mgbidi junction, Onitsha road, while trying to escape.
Orlando Ikeokwu (DSP), the Police state spokesperson, confirmed the incident but explained that the hoodlums only attempted to raze the governor’s house but were repelled by the efforts of the security deployed to the scene.
Ikeokwu admitted that the deaths of the three security operatives, saying, “I can confirm the story, the hoodlums attacked the governor’s house by throwing in petrol bomb as a result of which two cars were burnt.
“But they were successfully repelled, and none of the building was set ablaze. However, one unarmed personnel of the NSCDC was killed in the process. The hoodlums, while escaping, also killed a Police Sergeant and another NSCDC personnel, both in their private vehicles at Mgbidi junction.” Ikeokwu said.
A source from the community, under anonymity, said he saw six people in critical condition being hurriedly moved out of the governor’s residence but could not confirm if some of them survived.
“These people are looking mean; they drove in a large convoy and headed straight to the governor’s house. They threw a bomb because we heard a loud explosion and some of them went in while some of them remained outside.
“They were shooting heavily as they made their way into the building. We saw some of them outside carrying second hand tyres which they used in setting the vehicles outside ablaze”.
Another source, who also did not want his name mentioned, said that he felt the gunmen actually came to kill the governor.
“From what I can see from my house, these people are dangerous and I think they came to kill the governor. From the way they were shooting and bombing everywhere you will think the war has started. We were all afraid, we thought they will come for us in our buildings but they never did until they left,” The source said.
Meanwhile, the state government has attributed the incident to the activities of its detractors.
Declan Emelumba, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, in a statement insisted that the attack on the governor’s house was politically motivated even as he commended the security operatives drafted to save the situation.
His words: “Gallant security operatives this morning repelled an attack on the Omuma country home of the governor of Imo State, Sen Hope Uzodimma.
“At 9am today, Saturday, April 24th, a group of hoodlums numbering about 15 driving in a motorcade of three vehicles accompanied by a tipper loaded with used tyres, stormed the country home of the governor in Omuma, Oru East LGA and attempted to burn down the house.
“However, vigilant security operatives attached to the governor’s house successfully repelled the attack and consequently minimized the damage they had planned to unleash.
“In the cross fire that ensued a few casualties were recorded. Preliminary investigation suggests that the foiled attack may have been politically sponsored.
“The government has directed the relevant security agencies to expedite investigation on the incident and promptly apprehend the sponsors and their agents and bring them to justice,” Emelumba stated.
It was however gathered that a private security expert had alerted the governor of the plot early in the week, urging him to intensify security in and around the facility, which he ignored. The governor was said to be at Abuja when his country home was attacked.