…Ngige revealed that the assailants mocked the officers, telling them they were “serving a zoo government.
Alor, Nigeria — The iNews Times, Former Anambra State governor and immediate past Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has narrated how his convoy came under attack on Wednesday, leaving one woman dead and his police orderly wounded. Ngige spoke on Thursday when former presidential candidate Peter Obi visited his country home in Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area, to commiserate with him over the incident.
Ngige explained that he had been in Anambra since Saturday and had assigned some of his aides to routine errands, including taking one of his vehicles for maintenance. It was during their return journey that gunmen, dressed in police and military uniforms, ambushed the convoy around Umuoji. He dismissed rumours that he had been killed, insisting he was safe and unharmed.
“As you can see, I’m alive. They attacked my convoy while they were coming back around Umuoji when they saw some vehicles racing towards them. Those men later reversed, chased after my convoy and started shooting,” he said.
According to him, the attackers engaged his security team in a fierce exchange. His police orderly fought back but ran out of ammunition and was eventually shot in the leg, after which the gunmen seized his rifle and uniform. Ngige revealed that the assailants mocked the officers, telling them they were “serving a zoo government,” a phrase often associated with separatist rhetoric in the region.
He warned that the incident suggested deeper security threats in the state, particularly with the attackers’ focus on stealing weapons and uniforms. “I think something is in the offing; they are seizing arms and mopping up police uniforms. I have spoken to the governor, who assured me they will be tracked down, because if they are not, it can lead to potential danger and the unravelling of the calm we have enjoyed for the past three months,” he said.
With the Christmas season approaching and citizens preparing to travel home, Ngige stressed the urgency of apprehending the group to prevent further attacks. He also reflected on whether the assault was targeted, noting that the familiarity of his long-time convoy driver could have made him identifiable. However, he added that the attackers might simply have been hunting for policemen to dispossess.
Speaking on the gunmen’s statement about serving a “zoo government” and the recent incarceration of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, Ngige reiterated his long-held stance that Kanu’s case requires a political solution. He disclosed that he once met with former President Muhammadu Buhari over the matter and noted that Anambra Governor Charles Soludo had also shown willingness to take custody of Kanu.
Ngige suggested that Kanu should be considered for release, even if to British authorities, adding that the IPOB leader’s behaviour indicates mental health concerns. “The symptoms he is exhibiting are bizarre. I’m not a psychiatrist, but something is wrong. Even the NMA people who evaluated him should have looked at another component. There is mania there, and in such a situation, the court normally discharges the person,” he argued.
Peter Obi, who visited to show solidarity, thanked God for sparing Ngige’s life and expressed sadness over the woman who died while recording the attack. He prayed for the recovery of the injured officer and urged security agencies to intensify efforts to prevent further violence.
