Gunmen kill five in attacks on Imo PVC centre, Reps candidate

• Published date: 15 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

Five people were again killed in Imo State on Saturday, including a policeman, as gunmen went on a rampage in the state.

In the attacks carried out in different parts of the state, INEC officials were said to have sustained injuries during the issuance of PVCs.

The country home of the spokesperson of the Coalition of the United Political Parties and People's Democratic Party House of Representatives candidate, Ugochinyere Imo was also attacked.

In the attack, the hoodlums killed an uncle to Imo and three others.

It was gathered that no fewer than 30 campaign vehicles of the PDP candidate were burnt during the attack in his country home at the Akokwa community.

Imo, who confirmed the attack to newsmen in a WhatsApp message disclosed that his uncle was killed in the attack.

He called for help as his home was under siege.

Imo wrote: 'Emergency. We need help at Akokwa… We are under attack… My house is in Akokwa… They have surrounded it and opened fire. We are under attack. Help! Help!

'We need help… My uncle has been killed now…They are setting everything on fire. Please help.'

In a statement, the PDP in the state confirmed the attack on the country home of its candidate.

The statement which was issued by its spokesperson in the state, Collins Opuruozor read: 'Imo PDP alerts security agencies, Nigerians, international community to sponsored killings, arson going on at the Akokwa residence of Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, PDP candidate for Ideato Federal Constituency.

'The People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State alerts that at the moment, there is a well-coordinated armed attack going on at the Akokwa residence of Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the candidate of our Party for Ideato North/South 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, 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...