Reps Deputy Spokesperson, Agbese Escapes Assassination Attempt, Military Arrest Suspects

 

An assassination attempt on Hon. Philip Agbese, deputy Spokesperson of the Nigerian House of Representatives has been stopped.

 

Some armed men tried to assassinate Agbese on Thursday but were arrested by the army.

 

Reports indicate that Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, was attacked in Igumale, the headquarters of his own local government area of Ado, during a constituency outreach organised to mark the Easter celebration.

 

Recall that save for the swift intervention of the ‘Operation Whirlwind’ of the Nigerian Armed Forces on a peacekeeping mission in the area, the assassins would have had their ways.

 

Some of the suspects were said to have been arrested by the military operation and are currently giving useful information.

 

“Thanks to the swift response of security operatives present at the scene, the Enone Representative managed to evade harm, averting a potential tragedy.

 

“Several of the suspected perpetrators were promptly apprehended, shedding light on the disturbing chain of events”, an eyewitness said.

 

Our correspondent made an attempt to speak with the lawmaker, who was obviously unable to make serious comments on the incident.

 

“I am in shock. I am in a great shock. I can’t talk to you right now, please”, Agbese told our correspondent last night.

 

Mr. Lawrence Oduh, a media Aide to Agbese, confirmed the attack, adding that the arrested suspects have also made stunning revelations to the military during the preliminary investigation which was witnessed by the locals.

 

According to Oduh, the suspects fingered Ado Local Government Council Chairman, Hon. Agbese Charles Onazi and the Deputy Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. (Mrs.) Lami Danladi Ogenyi during the interrogation.

 

Oduh added that, “initial interrogations of the apprehended individuals have revealed damning information.”

 

As at the time of filing this report Friday morning, no official comment has come from the military operations in Benue State.

 

DAILY POST, however, contacted the Council Chairman, Onazi on phone Thursday night, who promised to call back within 5 minutes.

 

“Please, let me call you back. Just give me, like five minutes, please”, Onazi told our correspondent.

 

He, however, switched off his cell phone afterwards and could not be reached throughout the night, up until the time of this report.

 

It could be recalled that the Benue State ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been enmeshed with crisis since Governor Hyacinth Alia took over the affairs of the State, with members of the National Assembly Caucus from the state at the forefront.

 

Agbese, who is the spokesperson of the caucus, was seen in December 2023, removing the portrait of Governor Alia from his office in the National Assembly, a move which did not go down well with the state government and some stakeholders of the party.