Abia Governor Alex Otti
…As passengers were allegedly kidnapped
The advance team of the Abia state governor, Dr Alex Otti was attacked by gunmen early hours of Tuesday on their way to the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, Daily Sun reports.
This is even as the hoodlums allegedly abducted passengers three commuter buses travelling from Owerri to Aba at Umuowa/Ihitte communities in Ngor Okpala council area along the Owerri/ Aba Expressway.
In a statement by Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, Chief Press Secretary of the Abia state governor, said that the advance team of three members of the governor Otti who were on duty at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport came under attack by gunmen.
The statement reads ,”In the early hours of today, December 2nd, an advance team of three members from the Office of the Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, on duty to Sam Mbakwe Airport, Imo State, was attacked by unidentified gunmen. The incident occurred between Umuowa and Ihite junction, shortly before the Sam Mbakwe Airport Junction in Imo State.
The general public is hereby informed that the convoy of Governor Otti was not involved in this attack, and no lives were lost during the unfortunate incident” .
However, our Correspondent could not confirm if the gunmen who abducted passengers from three commuter buses travelling from Owerri to Aba between Umuowa /Ihitte junction in Ngor Okpala Council, were the same the gunmen who had earlier attacked the advance team of the Abia state governor.
It was learnt that the gunmen numbering about 10 had attacked the three commuter buses Tuesday morning and off loaded all the passengers in the three buses and marched their victims into the nearby bush .
The spokesperson of the State police command , DSP Henry Okoye said , “The incident has not been reported to the Police. Nevertheless, the Commissioner of Police has deployed tactical units to conduct robust fact-finding patrols along the Owerri–Aba Express Road. Further details will be communicated in due course.
