The Delta
State police have dismissed claims by the All Progressives Congress, (APC),
Senator representing Delta central, Ovie Omo-Agege, that the invasion of the
venue of
his second phase of his constituency ‘empowerment’ program in Effurun,
Uvwie local government area of Delta State by thugs was an assassination
attempt on him, his wife, members of his family, APC leaders and his
supporters.
SaharaReporters
reliably learned that Mr. Omo-Agege had on Saturday alongside his wife,
children, some APC chieftains and supporters gone to Effurun for the second
batch of his constituents empowerment program when armed irate youths invaded
the venue leading to the Senator being
whisked away together with his family by supporters while guests already
seated were chased away and several vehicles in the entourage of the Senator
destroyed.
Shortly
after the incident, the senator, through his media and strategy team issued a
statement titled: "Senator Omo-Agege Survives Assassination Attempt"
and signed by Mr. Aruviere Martin Egharhevwa.
The
statement which was obtained by SaharaReporters and read in parts:
"We
condemn in the strongest terms, today’s obvious premeditated assassination
attempt on the Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, his wife, members of his
family, APC leaders and his supporters during the second phase of the senator’s
constituency ‘empowerment’ program in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of
Delta State. We note with sadness that two persons were seriously injured
during this violent attack unleashed on the peace-loving senator and his team
by the suspected killers.
"We
call on security agencies to immediately arrest the hoodlums and bring them to
justice. We note with regret that the hoodlums staged the violent attack when
the senator and his team were at the popular Effurun Market giving direct
financial support to over hundreds of petty traders and Okada riders. They shot
sporadically, destroyed chairs and canopies at the event venues and inflicted
serious bodily injuries on members of the public. The attackers made a direct
threat on the senator’s life when they came face to face with him and his wife.
"Senator
Omo-Agege did not, however, yield to their violence, as he chose to provide
bold and wise leadership to avoid unnecessary bloodshed over his charitable
support for his constituents. Those injured were taken to hospitals for
treatment on the senator’s timely advice before he and his team drove to Ekpan
Police Station to formally complain to the police authorities. We expect the
Police to act. We wish to advise and warn that it is in the interest of those
who attacked the Distinguished Senator Omo-Agege to turn themselves into
security agencies immediately." the statement said.
But in a
fierce reaction to the claims by the senator, Delta state commissioner of
police, Mr. Zanna Ibrahim dismissed the claims insisting that they were not
aware of any assassination plot against Mr. Omo-Agege adding that politicians
are fond of making a mountain out of a
mole hill.
"I
don't know about any assassination attempt on the senator. Didn't he have
policemen with him? I know he reported a complaint at the Ekpan police station
that he was attacked by thugs during an empowerment program but I don't know
whether it boils down to an assassination attempt. My question is didn't he
have policemen with him? As a senator who will go on empowerment program will he
go empty handed?
"If you
are going for empowerment program are you not supposed to tell the police that
you will do empowerment program and they give you police, did he do that? Also,
didn't he have police operatives with him? Somebody will not just wake up to
say they attempted to assassinate him. When are making allegations you have a
substantial proves not just making allegations."
According to
the police boss, Mr. Omo-Agege has access to police and security operatives and
when going for such empowerment program he ought to inform the DPO or the area
commander to provide him with security, adding that "You know these
politicians, they can just say anything for their own political gains.
"
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