The All
Progressives Congress (APC)’s lawmaker, representing Delta Central, Senator
Ovie Omo-Agege, at the weekend, narrowly escaped an attack by suspected
assassins.
The incident
occurred at Effurun market in Uvwie Local Council Area of Delta State, while
carrying out an empowerment programme for his supporters. It was leant that one
of the two bullets fired at him cropped his ear while his wife, Rosemary and
some members of his team were also assaulted.
While about
200 women were due to be empowered with N20, 000 each, the attack occurred
after he had reportedly attended to about 150 of them. Some of his supporters,
who were seriously beaten up and injured, are currently receiving treatment at
an undisclosed hospital in Effurun, near Warri.
Reacting, Omo-Agege
said he was grateful to God for saving his life, adding that he could not yet
tell the motive behind the attempted killing. He said: “The bullet grazed
through my right ear, if I was not lucky, I would have been dead. Two bullets
were fired at me. My brother was shot and one of my supporters was almost
killed at Ekpan market.
“Unfortunately,
these took place in the presence of police officers who could not arrest any of
them. I have taken a first step by reporting the matter at the Ekpan police station.
I have equally spoken with the state commissioner of police.”
The lawmaker
promised to take the matter to the highest level, adding that he would go to
any length to ensure that the perpetrators were brought to book.
“What took
me to these places was to show my appreciation to the people of Uvwie for
voting for me in the last election, but some people felt threatened by my
empowerment programme,” he said.
He said he
was not just out to distribute grinding or sewing machines, as has been the
tradition, but to add value to the people who sell tomatoes, pepper and iced
fish in the market.
According to Guardian, after the
attack, Omo-Agege proceeded to Jigbale, Ubogo and Urhuvwerhun, where he also
empowered more people, including commercial motorcycle riders.
The
senator’s media aide, Mr. Aruviere Martin Egharhevwa, also explained that the
gunmen shot sporadically, destroyed chairs and canopies at the event and
wounded several people.
Meanwhile,
the state chapter of the APC has implored security agencies to investigate the
attack and arrest those behind it.
The party
Chairman, Jones Erue Ode, who made the call said: “The repugnant attack shows
that the perpetrators and their sponsors are intimidated by the love and
solidarity that the people have shown for him.
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