Whereabouts of Enugu politician still unknown after gunmen attack

The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed that unidentified gunmen attacked a local government council chairmanship aspirant in the state. His personal assistant, who escaped the attack, said the whereabouts of his boss was unknown since Saturday when they were attacked. Spokesman of the police in the command, Daniel Ndukwe, did not provide further details […]

The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed that unidentified gunmen attacked a local government council chairmanship aspirant in the state. His personal assistant, who escaped the attack, said the whereabouts of his boss was unknown since Saturday when they were attacked.

Spokesman of the police in the command, Daniel Ndukwe, did not provide further details on the incident, but that the command will release a press statement on Monday concerning the issue.

Chineme Onyeke, an aspirant for Nsukka Local Government Area chairmanship position under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was reportedly attacked in Ehalunoma town, within Nsukka council area at about 2pm on Saturday.

Daily Trust reports that the latest incident has added to the violence following the primaries of PDP scheduled for the February 29 local government elections in the state, while the PDP Secretariat in Nsukka town was burnt down on Friday night by unknown persons. Onyeke was said to be in the company of his personal assistant, Mr. Uche Ozioko, when the gunmen attacked. Although Ozioko himself escaped narrowly Onyeke has not been sighted since the incident. Giving an account of the incident, Ozioko, who spoke on phone from the police station, said they came out of Ehalumona Parish House and were heading to Opi Junction in a RAV4 jeep when he noticed that a black Peugeot car with tinted glass was following them.  He said, “I was telling my boss that I was suspicious of the intention of those in the Peugeot car but he said there was nothing to be afraid of as he had no issue with anybody. “But suddenly, they blocked us and started shooting. I opened my door and dashed into the bush and Chineme also opened his door and ran into the bush. I noticed the gunmen chasing him. By God’s grace I escaped and found my way to the police station at Umuabor Ehalumona.”

He said there was no information about the whereabouts of his boss yet at the time of filing this report.