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Gunmen yesterday stopped Senator Orji Uzor Kalu from visiting Ebem Community in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia state.
The senator, who was on tour of wards of the five Local Government Areas of the Abia North senatorial district, had hardly arrived Ebem community when some gunmen fired sporadic gunshots in the area.
Soldiers of the nearby 14 Brigade, Ohafia, who were attracted to the sporadic gunshots fired by the gunmen who had blocked the Asaga junction, stormed the area, exchanged gunshots and cleared the road.
The soldiers engaged in gun duel with the gunmen. It is gathered that a soldier and two gunmen were killed in the clash.
Sources told Pointblanknews.com that the senator’s convoy with its full complement fled the area and returned to his country home in Igbere in Bende Local Government Area.
However, the senator was said to have visited Amangwu, Okon Aku and other communities before the incident.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that the gunmen had warned the senator against coming to campaign in Ohafia town on the basis that they don’t want politicians to campaign in the town.
“Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has been on ward tour of local government areas in Abia North zone. Yesterday it was the turn of Ohafia local government. He has visited Amangwu, Okon Aku and other wards. As we were coming to Ebem ward, we started hearing gunshots. We thought it was coming from soldiers because the area is near the 14 Brigade,but there came information that unknown gunmen had blocked the Asaga junction. The senator’s convoy had to turn back to Igbere,” the sources said.
However,an aide to kalu who pleaded anonymity insisted that the Senate Chief Whip was not the target of the attack.
He explained that Kalu was never chased away from Ebem Ohafia.
“Senator Kalu was holding meeting with some people in Ebem community when the unknown gunmen came to the area and said they didnt want politicians to hold any political meeting in Ohafia. But when they saw it was Orji Uzor Kalu, the left. When Senator Kalu was leaving the community, the people were hailing him. I don’t know where the issue of chasing the senator out of the community is coming from. It is all politics and we know where it is coming from. They are afraid of Kalu’s record of representation in just 3 years which is unparalleled in the history of representation in Igbo land. Kalu will still defeat them again.”