The All Progressives Congress, (APC), senator representing Delta central senatorial district in the red chambers, Ovie Omo-Agege is said to have lied about Saturday’s assassination attempt on him as Delta State police command said there was never a time assassination attempt was made at the senator.
HardReporters gathered that Mr. Omo-Agege, was on Saturday attacked by youths suspected to be thugs during his second phase of his constituency empowerment program in Effurun, Uvwie local government area of Delta State.
The attack, it was learnt left several supporters of the senator with various degree of injuries while vehicles were destroyed.
Recounting details of the incident, Mr. Omo-Agege said, “There is Igho Majemite. There is Wilson Oki. These are all known thugs in Uvwie. I don’t know who sent them to assassinate me. But I was lucky because the bullet grazed through my right ear. If I was not lucky I would have been dead. Two bullets were shot at me; one was shot by Ayeye and another bullet was shot at me by Ngozi and also, my brother was shot.”
In press statement signed by Mr. Aruviere Martin Egharhevwa of the media and strategy team on behalf of the senator, obtained by HardReporters said “We condemn in the strongest terms, today’s obvious premeditated assassination attempt on the Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, his wife, members of his family, APC leaders and his supporters during the second phase of the senator’s constituency ‘empowerment’ program in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.”
According to the statement “We note with sadness that two persons were seriously injured during this violent attack unleashed on the peace-loving senator and his team by the suspected killers. We call on security agencies to immediately arrest the hoodlums and bring them to justice. We note with regret that the hoodlums staged the violent attack when the senator and his team were at the popular Effurun Market giving direct financial support to over hundreds of petty traders and Okada riders.
“They shot sporadically, destroyed chairs and canopies at the event venues and inflicted serious bodily injuries on members of the public. The attackers made direct threat on the senator’s life when they came face to face with him and his wife. Senator Omo-Agege did not however yield to their violence, as he chose to provide bold and wise leadership to avoid unnecessary bloodshed over his charitable support for his constituents.
“Those injured were taken to hospitals for treatment on the senator’s timely advice before he and his team drove to Ekpan Police Station to formally complain to the police authorities. We expect the Police to act. We wish to advise and warn that it is in the interest of those who attacked the Distinguished Senator Omo-Agege to turn themselves in to security agencies immediately.” the statement said.
Reacting to the alleged assassination attempt on the senator, the Delta state commissioner of police, Mr. Zanna Ibrahim said Mr. Omo-Agege’s claims were unfounded as such dismissed it saying the command was not aware of any such assassination plot against the senator.
The police commissioner maintained that he doesn’t know about any assassination attempt on the senator, asking that if he does not have policemen with him, adding that the senator only reported a case of attack by thugs at the Ekpan police station, “During an empowerment program but I don’t know whether it was assassination attempt. Didn’t he have policemen with him.? As a senator who will go on empowerment program will he go empty handed.” the CP queried.
“Senator Omo-Agege has access to police and security operatives and when going for such empowerment program its his duty to inform the DPO and the area commander to provide him with security, If you are going for empowerment program are you not supposed to tell the police that you will do empowerment program and they give you police, is he not having police operatives with him.” adding that somebody will not wake up to begin to allege attempt of assassinate on him and when making such allegations there must be substantial proves.
According to the CP, politicians make allegations without prove for political gains.
