My house bombed with explosives – CUPP spokesperson

Coalition of United Political Parties spokesman Ikenga Ugochinyere on Wednesday opened the Jan. 14 attack on his mansion in Akokwa, Imo state.

According to him, contrary to allegations that the attack was carried out by members of Biafran’s indigenous people, the incident that left more than 500 bullet holes in his residences was engineered by sponsored militias.

He said high-grade explosives were used during the attack which burned more than 32 vehicles, motorcycles and other properties worth N550 million.

“We were shot at, we were bombarded with high-grade explosives, houses were razed to the ground with bombs, those still standing were shaken to their foundations, and vehicles over 32 were all set on fire with these explosives.

“Several motorcycles belonging to hard-working villagers were burned, along with other properties worth more than N550 million, which were only lost in the attacks. They attacked in broad daylight, firing from all angles, leaving over 500 bullet holes in the houses in my mansion. Innocent people were killed for no reason,” said the activist.

Ugochinyere stressed at a press conference in Abuja that the attackers bore a similar resemblance to the team that attacked his convoy on Dec. 23, 2022, which he claimed was led by Chinasa Nwaneri, special adviser to Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma on Special Duties.

He accused the Imo State government of being responsible for the murder of his uncle, chief Daniel Iloabanafo Ikeagwuonu, and all others killed in the attack, an allegation repeatedly denied by the government.

The CUPP spokesman said: “We have received information that a convoy of attackers was making their way to my mansion. I didn’t see the message when it arrived because I was conferring with my team. But when I saw it I rushed out to inform the security men on duty to reinforce and organize and while that was going on I saw the convoy but before our security men could react they opened fire on me.

“I narrowly escaped the special grace and mercy of God. With the security men we now stormed into one of our houses and formed a defense which they continued to attack. Thank goodness we survived.

“Gentlemen, let me make it categorically clear; I was not attacked by members of IPOB. I was attacked by a state-sponsored militia similar to the same team that attacked my convoy on December 23, 2022, which was led by Governor Hope Uzodimma’s special adviser on special duties, Chinasa Nwaneri, who was in a white Hilux van that was used for that attack.

“Nigerians will be happy to note that INEC has since removed more than three million such fake names from the electoral roll. It has also identified 25 of its employees involved with Omuma Magic and has taken internal disciplinary action against them. So if they say what we said was a lie, ignore them.

“After that revelation of the compromise that spanned 14 states and my quest for justice and action against all those involved, the Uzodimma government felt very uncomfortable with me and they said they were looking for ways to help us to silence.

“They know that if we could have gotten that information, we would have gotten more. First they charged me with terrorism and arson, claiming that I was responsible for setting fire to INEC offices in Imo State, that I made the allegations of Omuma Magic from documents obtained from the burned offices.

“They also made murder charges against me. They made several other false and disgusting accusations. I have endured all of this and still continue to advocate for justice for the voter register compromise.”

He showed the photo of a gold Toyota Highlander SUV with registration number MUS 649 GF belonging to one Uzoma Chukwujieze and his wife Kelechi Chukwujieze of Ihiteafoukwu in Achiazu Mbaise LGA in Imo State.

Ugochinyere said, “This vehicle was snatched in Owerri from Uzoma, who was severely beaten by people matching the description of those who attacked my house. Uzoma is still in the hospital. That same Highlander was the first car in the convoy of cars I saw with my own eyes that came to attack us in my house.

‘So how did a Highlander that had been taken from Owerri get driven all the way to Akokwa, filled with gunmen and all those explosives from Owerri without being seen despite the checkpoints? These people asked for directions to my house and ended up hiring a bike man who innocently led them to my house.

“As they were leaving in a panic, apparently after learning that I had succeeded in sending out an SOS and that there might be an independent intervention, the car got stuck in a ditch and they were forced to bomb it there and set it on fire, but as God would have done, we recovered the half-burnt number plate.”