Photo: Ikedi Ohakim, ex-Imo State governor.
A former governor of Imo State, Mr Ikedi Ohakim, has said that he thought he was already dead when gunmen opened fire on his vehicle on Monday in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of the state.
Periscope International recalls that the attack on the former governor’s motorcade, which had his son and daughter in his bulletproof car, left in its trail four police escorts dead.
Ohakim described his assailants as professionals, and not novices, saying,”These people are trained professionals. They are not typical citizens. They were operating a brand-new BMW 5-series in the colour blue.
“Between Isiala Mbano and Ehime Mbano, we were travelling. We were attacked by these people in Umualumaku.
“They attacked us from behind and kept opening fire on our cars. When I saw my son and daughter, I initially believed I had passed away.
“The armoured car was what kept me alive. It is only through God’s special grace and my bulletproof car that I am still alive today.
“But sadly for me, four policemen, including their driver, were killed. It is true that we lost four of them, and I am heartbroken.
“How is that possible? What wrongdoing did they do?
The former governor said the attackers pursued his car even after his own driver was able to flee the scene.
“They chased after us and kept shooting at our tyres. Fortunately, the car has run-flat tyres, which allows you to keep driving even after a puncture.
“So the car kept moving even when they fired at the tyres in an effort to stop us. If the car had stopped and they had been regular tyres, they would have cornered and killed us.
“However, the tyres held up until we arrived home. Before arriving home, we spent about 20 minutes driving.
“The saving grace was that the driver, who displayed exceptional driving skills, continued to manoeuvre until he lost them at a fork in the road.
“He then turned right, and because they did not know where we were going, they took the opposite direction on the road to Umuahia
“We then made a U-turn and returned to my house.
“When the Imo Government House sent reinforcements from Owerri with the bodies of my security personnel, we were present.
“I must say that this issue transcends the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
“I have no idea what this is about. It is getting worse. Will we not return home again?
“Are we going to remain in Owerri and Abuja indefinitely without returning to our hometowns?” Ohakim asked rhetorically.
