Former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha Survives Gunmen Attack on Convoy

Former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, narrowly escaped an attack on his convoy by gunmen while traveling along the Okigwe-Enugu Expressway. The incident occurred on Friday as his fleet was returning to Enugu after dropping him in Owerri.

The unidentified assailants, who likely spotted the convoy en route to Owerri, mistakenly targeted it, believing that Okorocha was still present. Fortunately, the former governor escaped unharmed, but tragically, a policeman in the escort vehicle lost his life during the attack.

The area near Ihube on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway has been plagued by the activities of terrorists who engage in killings and kidnappings for ransom.

Speaking at a birthday anniversary celebration for Samuel Anyanwu, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the upcoming governorship election in the state, Okorocha confirmed the incident and expressed his shock and disappointment. He also mourned the loss of the police officer.

Okorocha, who governed Imo State from 2011 to 2019, revealed that the victim was among the policemen deployed from the Enugu State Government House to provide security during the burial ceremony of the mother of Emeka Ihedioha, the immediate past governor of Imo State. The former governor explained that he had attended the burial of the wife of former Senate President Ken Nnamani in Enugu and was returning to Imo State when the attack took place.

Okorocha expressed his frustration, noting that he felt safe in Enugu but was shocked to be attacked in his own state, with a security agent losing his life in the process.

He stated, “I am angry. I am very angry. I am angry because I spent two days in Enugu, and nothing happened to me, but it is in my own state that the convoy provided by the governor of Enugu State (a very good man) to attend the burial ceremony of Ihedioha’s mother at Mbaise was attacked and one policeman killed.”

The ex-governor’s aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the convoy’s vehicles, including a sports utility vehicle, a bus, and a Hilux, were riddled with bullets during the attack. He further disclosed that two other security agents were briefly kidnapped by the assailants but were released on the same day.

Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officers in Imo State and Enugu State, ASP Henry Okoye and Daniel Ndukwe, respectively, were unsuccessful as calls to their phones went unanswered. Authorities are likely investigating the incident and taking measures to enhance security in the region.