House of Representatives member, Prince Odianosen Okojie, has narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at his residence, with armed men suspected to be political thugs attempting to carry out the attack. This alarming incident was revealed by Okojie’s media aide, Michael Ihaza, in a statement released on Friday, September 20, 2024.
According to Ihaza, the husband of Nollywood star Mercy Johnson was targeted by gunmen who were posing as police officers. These assailants arrived in a Lexus GX 470 with a Rivers State registration number, PHC 253 FF, and attempted to gain entry into Okojie’s home under the guise of an official appointment.
Fortunately, the attack was thwarted by Okojie’s security team, who engaged the assailants, effectively preventing the attempt on his life. “It was unsuccessful owing to the intervention of security personnel attached to the lawmaker,” Ihaza stated.
The media aide detailed that the armed thugs, disguised as police officers, invaded the residence and made their way to the sitting room. However, the timely response of Okojie’s security team led to the hasty retreat of two of the armed men, while the driver and another individual were apprehended and are currently being interrogated by officers from the Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force in Uromi.
“The suspects have so far made a confessional statement, indicating that they were sent on this mission by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Esan North East Local Government Area,” the statement continued, shedding light on the political motivations behind the attack.
This reported attack comes on the eve of the governorship election in the South-South state, raising concerns over the safety of political figures amid a charged electoral atmosphere. Okojie has been a vocal supporter of the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, further intensifying the political stakes surrounding this incident.
As of the time this report was filed, the Edo State Police Command has yet to issue a response regarding the incident, leaving many questions unanswered about the safety and security measures in place as the election approaches.