Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia
The campaign office of Chief Osita Offor, located at Ebelebe Ubahu, Nneato in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State was on Monday attacked by suspected armed thugs.
The Offor, who is a world wrestling heavy weight champion is the candidates of the African Democratic Congress for the Abia North Senatorial district election.
A statement by the candidate popularly known as the “Ultimate Commander” on Wednesday stated that the ugly incident left some of his supporters with various degree of injuries on Monday February 20, 2023.
He added that some of his supporters who were kidnapped, were later released and have joined their respective families.
Offor, equally called for calm within the people of Nneato, urging them not to take the law into their hands and allow the security operatives finish out those behind the dastardly act.
The statement read in part, “It has come to my knowledge about the brutal attack perpetuated by some unknown gunmen at the premises of my senatorial campaign office located at Ebelebe Ubahu, Nneato in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State, around 3pm on Monday February 20, 2023.
“I gathered from my supporters and eyewitness that the attackers came prepared as if they were heading for war with another country. They were shooting sporadically, destroyed my campaign office, beating and maiming anyone they view as my supporter while pulling down my posters and billboards.
“During the attack, some of my people were shot severally, they are currently receiving treatment at the hospital, others sustained different degree of injuries, while about two persons were kidnapped and later released but nobody died.
“Let me reassure my numerous supporters, the good people of Nneato and all the PG’s as well as the Traditional Rulers that Ultimate Commander cannot be intimidated. I am a child anointed by God, blessed by God and protected by God.
“In case they don’t know, my senatorial aspiration is a product of God’s revelation and I have an assignment to free the people of Abia North from bad leadership, bad representation and from evil leaders.
“Based on the above, no amount of attack whether physical or otherwise, character assassination and mudsling can stop a mission that its time is now.
“I will work hard with security operatives to get to the root of this matter and by the grace of God all those involved in this evil deed will be revealed and dealt with.
“As regards those that were shot and my supporters that sustained various degree of injuries, you will be taken care off.
“I call on President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, the Commander in Chief of the Arm Forces, the International Community, the INEC, Nigerian Military, DSS, Police and Civil Defence to come and rescue the people of Nneato in Umunneochi local government area of Abia State.
“I equally urge all the security operatives to be more vigilant during this political period within Nneato/ Umunneochi and all the Abia North in general as desperate politicians who are getting frustrated are gradually going haywire and they must be contained.”