A convoy belonging to the former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige, was ambushed and attacked by gunmen on Thursday along the Nkpor-Nnobi Road.
The assailants, who were reportedly dressed in police and military uniforms, opened fire on the vehicles. Fortunately, Dr. Ngige was not in the convoy at the time of the attack.
However, the violence resulted in one confirmed death and multiple injuries. A policeman in the pilot car was shot, and his firearm and uniform were seized by the attackers.
Tragically, a female bystander who was recording the incident on her phone was fatally shot by the gunmen.
A local shop owner who came out to investigate the commotion was also shot. He sustained significant blood loss but is expected to make a full recovery after surgery to remove the bullets, as they did not lodge near his spine. The pilot car was severely damaged, riddled with bullet holes.
According to a former aide, Fred Chukwuelobe, Dr. Ngige has been informed of the incident. “He confirmed the development, promising to do all he can to ensure that those injured receive adequate treatment,” Chukwuelobe stated.
The former governor also sent his condolences to the family of the deceased woman.
The Anambra State Police Command has not yet issued an official statement on the attack.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
