The Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma has cried out that the armed attack on his country home may have been politically motivated.
The attack, which resulted in the burning of parts of the compound and the death of some security personnel, took place in the early hours of today, Saturday, April 24, 2021.
Reports have it that gunmen in black and black attires attacked the palatial compound in Omuma, Oru East Local Government Area of the State and set parts of the compound as well as vehicles in the premises on fire.
The Governor, in a statement by the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, did not, however, directly name any politician as responsible for the attack.
He has, however, been having a running battle with Senator Rochas Okorocha, a former Governor of the State, who only recently was detained and released after two nights in the detention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Okorocha was dragged into detention by EFCC, according to his spokesman, based on series of petitions by the state government, an allegation that Uzodinma’s aide denied. Okorocha was said to have been taken in to answer questions bordering on corruption, money laundering and related matters.
The Uzodinma government is in the process of trying to recover properties and monies which it alleges belong to the state but which the government says were looted by Okorocha and members of his family.
Okorocha’s attempt to forcefully unseal one of the properties that the government sealed briefly landed him in detention in the Police headquarters in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
On Friday, after a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari, Uzodinma had also told State House Correspondents that the insecurity in his state and the country as a whole was being sponsored by politicians, a position which he also held when unknown armed men attacked the Police Headquarters and Correctional Centre in the state.
Okorocha and Uzodinma are from the same Orlu Senatorial District. Okorocha took over the senatorial seat that Uzodinma vacated to take over the Governor’s position that Okorocha had desperately but unsuccessfully wanted to hand over to his son-in-law.
According to the account of Emelumba, concerning the attack on the Governor’s country home: “At about 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 minimised 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.”
