by Azubuike Azikiwe

Thugs suspected to loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party attacked the campaign team of the governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia, Dr. Alex Otti, on Thursday, March 19, at Ntigha Junction on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway,

The attack against the former Diamond Bank boss was the second in less than two weeks.

The campaign team was initially attacked on March 9, while on their way to Oboro in Ukwuano Local Government Area of the state for town hall meetings with the people of the area.

According to eyewitnesses, the new attack occurred while Otti’s motorcade was heading to Mbawsi in Isialangwa North Local Government Area of the state, for a town hall meeting.

The eyewitness account revealed that the thugs waylaid Otti’s team at Ntigha Junction on the expressway.

The thugs were said to have blocked the way to Mbawsi, shooting randomly into the air, resulting in a stampede as motorists on the expressway as well as cyclists, passersby and hawkers at the junction ran to different directions for safety.

An eyewitness revealed that the incident happened around 2 p.m, saying that the thugs were later repelled by youths of the area with the assistance of policemen.

He said: “The thugs came in branded buses and blocked the road to Mbawsi. We sensed that there was danger and they started shooting as soon as Otti’s convoy (motorcade) approached the junction. The resultant stampede made vehicles on the expressway, motorcyclists, hawkers and everybody to run for safety.”

He added that Otti’s motorcade parked by the roadside until the thugs took to their heels.

Kolapo Olapoju