Gov. Umahi Escapes Assassination As Gunmen Track Him To Airport Site

Engr. Dave Umahi, the Governor of Ebonyi State, narrowly escaped death on Tuesday when unknown gunmen stormed the proposed Ebonyi International Airport site after allegedly receiving information that he might be visiting to inspect the level of work there.

The gunmen raided the airport site around 3:30 p.m., but missed their aim because the Governor did not show up, according to News Express.

The heavily armed men arrived on seven motorcycles and two cars, according to a high-ranking source at the Ebonyi State Government House. “When they arrived at the site, they opened fire, but God spared the Commissioner for Infrastructure Growth, Engr Fidelis Nweze, who, upon seeing the motorcycles, dashed to a nearby bush for cover, leaving his SUV Jeep behind.

“After that, the gunmen broke into the SUV and stole the Commissioner’s laptop, architectural plan documents, and money. “They fired on the air repeatedly and took over the site for a while while waiting for the governor to arrive,” the source said.

After a short wait for the Governor, the armed men left the scene and went to a nearby commercial bank (name withheld) in Onueke, close to the Ezaa South Local Government Area headquarters, where they robbed and killed two police officers,” the source added.

Mr. Francis Nwaze, Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, told Government House reporters that the assault was not aimed at his principal in response to the incident. “The assault is not aimed at the Governor in any way. The assailants arrived on their own. Anyone who connects it to the Governor is searching for something else. As you know, anything can happen in politics,” Nwaze said.