An advance team of Governor Alex Otti of Abia escaped unhurt after unidentified gunmen opened fire on their vehicle in the early hours of yesterday, along the Umuowa–Ihite axis in Imo State.
Reacting to the incident, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ukoha Njoku, said that an advance team of three members from the office of the governor from the Government House, Umuahia, who were on duty at the Sam Mbakwe airport, Owerri, were attacked by yet to be identified gunmen between Umuowa and Ihitte junction, on their way to the airport.
According to him, the governor’s convoy was not involved, stressing that no life was lost in the incident.
“In the early hours of today, December 2, an advance team of three members from the Office of the Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Dr Alex Chioma Otti, on duty at Sam Mbakwe Airport, Imo State, was attacked by unidentified gunmen. “The incident occurred between Umuowa and Ihite junction, shortly before the Sam Mbakwe Airport Junction in Imo State.
“The general public is hereby informed that the convoy of Governor Otti was not involved in this attack, and no lives were lost during the unfortunate incident”, the statement read.
It was earlier reported that the former Governor of Anambra State, Chris Ngige’s convoy was also attacked on November 27, 2025, along the Nkpor–Nnobi Road in Idemili North local government area.
The insecurity in the South- East part of Nigeria spiked following the arrest and subsequent conviction of the leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
