A group of armed men reportedly disrupted a meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, killing one of its members in the process.
It was gathered that the party-members were meeting to make arrangements towards the November governorship election.
The gunmen struck without warning, shooting sporadically to cause chaos, which led to the death of a man identified as Somadina Oforma.
Reports say that many other party members sustained bullet wounds from the attack.
Following the incident, the APC governorship candidate, Senator Andy Uba revealed that the attack was politically motivated.
He urged the state governor, Willie Obiano to stem the spate of attacked that have bedevilled the state in recent weeks.
Uba in a statement released by his campaign organization, which was signed by the Director of Media, Victor Ogene said that it is not the first time its party members would be attacked.
The release read: “The late Oforma was, without any provocation, shot dead inside the APC office at Uruagu Ward 3, Nnewi North Local Government Area of the state, while holding a meeting with other party faithful, many of whom sustained varying degrees of injury.
“Uba has, however, promised to immortalize the deceased, and also reach out to the injured.
“We recall that, on July 31, 2021 at Oba, Idemili South LGA, unknown gunmen, operating in a similar fashion, accosted and killed Mr. Cosmas Eze, our party’s acting Assistant Secretary for the local government area, and dispossessed him of the APC branded Sienna vehicle he was driving. The late Mr. Eze hailed from Akwu Ukwu in the same council area.
“The seemingly targeted attack on the APC was to go a notch higher, when on Saturday, September 10, 2021, the traditional ruler of Mkpunando in Anambra East LGA, Igwe Alex Edozieuno, and his driver, Chukwuemeka, were waylaid and killed.
“It is instructive to note that the late Igwe Edozieuno had one month before his brutal death joined the APC, after being deposed by the Obiano administration.
“Whilst not imputing any direct motive to these attacks, we are however constrained to observe that our party, the APC, has borne the brunt of the majority of them, leaving us to wonder when political contest in Anambra State degenerated to the point of opposition party members living in fear.
“We, therefore, call on Governor Obiano, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, and other law enforcement agencies, including the police, the Department of State Security, DSS and the Civil Defense Corps, to urgently take steps to halt the growing reign of terror in our state.”
The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga confirmed the incident, saying it happened at about 7pm on Sunday.
Ikenga said: “Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command CP Tony Olofu has ordered an investigation into a shooting incident at Uruagu Community, Nnewi on 26/09/2021.
“Preliminary investigation reveals the attackers at about 7pm on 26/09/2021, along Uruagu Community, started shooting sporadically. Two persons who sustained gunshot injuries were taken to the hospital. One of the victims who was later identified as Somuadina Oforma was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty while the other is receiving treatment in the hospital.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
