2023: Gunmen kill Labor senatorial candidate and five others in Enugu
Gunmen killed the Labor Party (LP) senatorial candidate for Enugu East district in Amechi Awkunanaw, a community in Enugu South Local Government Area in southern Enugu State -eastern Nigeria.
The victim, Oyibo Chukwu, was killed on Wednesday evening alongside five supporters who were inside his vehicle.
The killing comes just three days before the senatorial election to be held this Saturday, February 25.
The chairman of the LP in Enugu State, Casmir Agbo, confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday morning.
"Yes, that's true. We're having a meeting about it right now," he said.
Mr. Agbo suggested the assailants were not "unknown gunmen", as has been widely reported, insisting that what happened was a political assassination.
A source close to the slain LP contestant also confirmed the incident to this newspaper.
He said the body of Mr. Chukwu, the candidate, was burned by the gunmen during the attack.
“The problem is that he (Chukwu) has no security escort. He campaigns and walks around without any security. Maybe he thought politics is not a dirty game,” he said.
When contacted, state police spokesman Daniel Ndukwe confirmed the incident but asked for time to provide details of the attack.
Not the first timeSome members of the LP have been the target of attacks by armed men in the Southeast in recent times, mainly during party political rallies in the region.
But the killing of a party candidate is a novelty in Enugu State.
On August 31, gunmen attacked LP members in Nenwe, a community in Aninri Local Government Area, state.
READ ALSO:Again, on September 4, gunmen also attacked other LP members who were holding a meeting in the Awgu community in the Awgu local government area of the state.
>Gunmen in December killed the LP candidate for the Onimo Local Government Area constituency in Imo State, another southeastern state.
LP members suspect that the attacks may have been sponsored by some members of opposition political parties in the Southeast who are said to be troubled by the LP's growing popularity in the region.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government.
Gunmen killed the Labor Party (LP) senatorial candidate for Enugu East district in Amechi Awkunanaw, a community in Enugu South Local Government Area in southern Enugu State -eastern Nigeria.
The victim, Oyibo Chukwu, was killed on Wednesday evening alongside five supporters who were inside his vehicle.
The killing comes just three days before the senatorial election to be held this Saturday, February 25.
The chairman of the LP in Enugu State, Casmir Agbo, confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday morning.
"Yes, that's true. We're having a meeting about it right now," he said.
Mr. Agbo suggested the assailants were not "unknown gunmen", as has been widely reported, insisting that what happened was a political assassination.
A source close to the slain LP contestant also confirmed the incident to this newspaper.
He said the body of Mr. Chukwu, the candidate, was burned by the gunmen during the attack.
“The problem is that he (Chukwu) has no security escort. He campaigns and walks around without any security. Maybe he thought politics is not a dirty game,” he said.
When contacted, state police spokesman Daniel Ndukwe confirmed the incident but asked for time to provide details of the attack.
Not the first timeSome members of the LP have been the target of attacks by armed men in the Southeast in recent times, mainly during party political rallies in the region.
But the killing of a party candidate is a novelty in Enugu State.
On August 31, gunmen attacked LP members in Nenwe, a community in Aninri Local Government Area, state.
READ ALSO:Again, on September 4, gunmen also attacked other LP members who were holding a meeting in the Awgu community in the Awgu local government area of the state.
>Gunmen in December killed the LP candidate for the Onimo Local Government Area constituency in Imo State, another southeastern state.
LP members suspect that the attacks may have been sponsored by some members of opposition political parties in the Southeast who are said to be troubled by the LP's growing popularity in the region.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government.What's Your Reaction?
