Ngige Escapes Death As Gunmen Riddle Convoy With Bullets

By Adesina Soyooye

Dr. Chris Ngige, the immediate past Federal Minister for Labour escaped death in his home State when his convoy was attacked by gunmen.

The attack left one woman who was recording the attack dead, and a couple of others, including a policeman and the driver of the escort vehicle, badly injured.

The convoy ran into the ambush along the  Nkpor–Nnobi Road in Idemili North Local Government Area.

Eye witnesses said the assailants were dressed in military and police uniforms. They opened fire on the pilot vehicle, and killed a policeman whose rifle and uniform they allegedly carted away.

The ill-fated woman was  reportedly recording the incident with her mobile phone when she was shot dead.

An owner of a shop who rushed out to see what was happening was hit by bullets. He sustained severe injuries, which resulted in loss of a lot of  blood. He is  scheduled for surgery to remove bullet fragments, and mercifully, in stable condition.

The leader of the escort sustained gunshot injuries and has  undergone surgery. He is stable and will have full recovery.

Luckily for Dr. Ngige, who was a Governor of the State before the Supreme Court sacked him, he was not in the convoy at the time of the attack.

A statement by his former Chief Press Secretary,  Fred Chukwuelobe, confirmed the frightening incident. “I spoke with His Excellency, Dr. Ngige, who confirmed the attack and assured that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure adequate medical care for the injured. He also extended condolences to the family of the woman who was killed while recording the attack”, he said.

At the time of filing this story, there has been no statement from either the Police or tye State Government.