By Ken Afor
Senator Victor Umeh, a leader in the Labor Party (LP), representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, escaped assassination while on the Enugu/Onitsha expressway on Wednesday.
Umeh and his friend, while driving from Awka (the capital of Anambra State) to Abakaliki, realized that a Honda CRV (painted red) was trying to flag them down at the Orji River axis of the road, according to Daily Independent report.
He said: “They were five in number in the car. We had to speed up, they chased us so hotly that we became afraid. We sped up even more to get to spots where people could be seen. But when they started shooting in the air, we veered off the road, left our car, and ran into the bush”.
He stated that after exiting the bush, he encountered a commercial motorbike that took him to Oji River town.
“I then noticed that I had lost my phone and didn’t know the whereabouts of my friend,” he narrated.
After finally reuniting with his friend who had come back from their hideout, he called one of their soldiers/friends stationed near a gas station in Awka.
“The soldiers came and took us to the scene where we abandoned our car. They combed the area. Asked if we had the car keys and told us to continue our journey while they contacted their teams along the route,” he added.
He explained that, prior to the attack, he had received text messages, one of which hinted at what he suspected he was up against.
One of the text messages read: “That your Labour Party you have refused to leave, you will die in that Party”. Another text stated: “We know you are living in Abakaliki with your family and children, keep running. We will get you one of these days.”
Umeh stated that he was unable to determine whether the assassins following him were affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC) or All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
“I hail from Amawbia in Anambra State and my family members are mostly of APGA but I am a card-carrying member of the Labour Party. I am living here in Abakaliki. And I know everyone is entitled to a choice of association. Now I feel threatened by my young family. People should please leave me alone.”
