By Jennifer Y Omiloli
*Ohanaeze Ndigbo expresses anger over the assassination attempt on Ekweremadu
Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has expressed anger over the assassination attempt on the life of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.
The group came hard on the Nigeria Police for claiming that the attack was a burglary incident.
it was reported that DCP Jimoh Moshood, the Force Public Relations Officer, had while addressing newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, explained that the incident was a burglary and not an assassination attempt.
However, reacting through a statement by the Secretary-General of the Ohanaeze Youth Council, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, on Wednesday, the group described the incident as “an attack too many.”
He slammed the police for coming up with what he called “bogus claims”, noting that “it was unthinkable for the force to say burglars found their way into Ekweremadu’s residence.”
“We can’t accept this because it does not fly in the face of logic. If they were indeed burglars, why would they order the Senator’s son to lead them to his father? The Police owe Nigerians some explanation on this.”
He added that “we remain shocked and dismayed over this news. Indeed, this is an attack too many and must not be swept under the carpet.
“It is a very worrisome considering that it is coming at a time Nigeria is approaching the electioneering period. The attack also calls to question the security architecture of this nation. We say this because if this could happen to the number 5 person in the country, what become the fate of the common man in the street?”
While recalling that the Senator has had such experience in the past, Okwu said “this must not be swept under the carpet.
“We call on the Inspector-General of Police to set up a crack team that will get to the root of this matter.
“May we also add that if the security agents can no longer secure him, we are ready to mobilize Igbo youths and give him the needed security.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has condemned the Nigerian police over a comment made on Tuesday’s failed assassination attempt on his life and that of his family.
“No thorough investigations were made by the police. I was shocked to hear that they had said it was a mere burglary case,” Ekweremadu told the Senate on Wednesday.
“My son, who was hospitalized, was not even interviewed by the police,” he added.
However, the deputy senate president alleged that “the police looked at the CCTV footage but could not figure it out.
“Fortunately, a technician came and was able to figure out the footage,” he said.
Ekweremadu, thereafter, threatened to release the incident’s footage to the public for judgement if the police do not withdraw their report that the assassination attempt was a mere burglary.
“Unless they withdraw their report, I will release the video to Nigerians to judge for themselves,” Ekweremadu said.
Police spokesman Jimoh Moshood, however, said five persons on Ekweremadu’s security detail have been arrested for “negligent acts and dereliction of duty.”
