Imo : Saved By His Bullet Proof Car,  Ohakim Says He Thought He Was Dead; Exonerates IPOB; Blames  Professionals

By Charles Igbo

“I thought I was a dead man.  I am alive today because of God, through the instrumentality of my bullet proof car.”

With the above words, a subdued and very shaken former Imo State Governor, Ikedi Ohakim told the story of his miraculous escape from death in the hands of ferocious and assassins who were determined to kill him. “They came to kill me”, he lamented.

Ohakim was on his way back to his Owerri residence from a visit to Ehime Mbano on Monday, 2nd January 2023, when assassins swooped on his convoy. Two of his children, a son and a daughter, were in the car with him.

The assassins, riding in a new BMW car, 5-series, on seeing his convoy opened fire on his own car. The car and the type of tyres it has, plus the dexterity of his driver, saved him and his children, through the mercy of God. His driver was able to meander through village roads. His type of tyres – run flat tyres – can move even when they are shot at, and punctured.

Sadly, four Policemen attached to Ohakim who were in a back up car, paid the supreme price. Their vehicle was bombed. And, they were killed instantly.

Lamented the one-term Governor of Imo State: “Are we going to stay in Owerri and Abuja permanently? Are we no longer going to go to our communities?” Ohakim is from the Local Government Area where he was, almost, killed.

The former Governor, a staunch member of the All Progressives Party, APC, was quick to exonerate the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, from his ordeal. He said those who attacked him were no amateurs. They were professionals, he said.

Narrating the story of his great escape from the assassins to TheNiche Monday night, Ohakim said:

“We were driving between Isiala Mbano and Ehime Mbano. These people blocked us at a place called Umualumaku.

“They attacked us from behind, and were firing at our vehicles consistently. I thought I was a dead man, and I was with two of my children – my son and daughter.

“What saved me was the bullet-proof vehicle. That I am alive today is by the special grace of God and the bullet proof vehicle.

“But unfortunately for me, they killed four of our boys, including the diver. Yes, we lost four of our boys, and I am devastated. How can that be? What crime did they commit?

Insisting that it was a clear case of assassination, and that he was the target, Ohakim said:

“Even when my driver escaped from the scene, they pursued my vehicle.

“They pursued us and continued firing at our tyres. Luckily, the vehicle has what is called run-flat tyres on which you can continue driving even after a puncture. So, even when they shot at the tyres, hoping to immobilise us, the vehicle continued moving. If they were ordinary tyres, and the vehicle had stopped, they would have cornered and finished us.

“But the tyres held on until we got home. We drove for about 20 minutes before we got home. That was the saving grace.

“The driver who manifested tremendous level of driving skill kept maneuvering until he lost them at a junction when he went right, and not knowing where we had gone, they headed the other direction on the way to Umuahia.

“We then turned and went back to my house. We were there when Imo Government House sent reinforcement from Owerri who brought the corpses of my security people.

“The assailants were not amateurs. This goes beyond the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, I must say. These are professionals, well-trained. They are not ordinary people. They were driving a blue-coloured BMW 5- series car, brand new. They came to kill me.

“I don’t know what this is all about. It is becoming terrible. Won’t people come home again? Are we to stay in Owerri and Abuja permanently without coming back to our communities?

The attack on Ohakim’s convoy is a copy cat of the attack on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s convoy a few months ago. The Senator was going back to his Nnewi, Anambra State country home when he was ambushed by assailants who swooped on him as his convoy drove past a market at Enugwu Ukwu. He was saved by God and his bullet proof car.

Sadly, seven people including his Police escorts and two personal staff lost their lives.

Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, some weeks ago, announced that a number of the assailants have been arrested.