– Nwodo describes attackers as ‘cowards’

– IPOB denies

By Uzor Ugwueze, Enugu

The crisis rocking the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo took a frightening twist over the weekend as explosion rocked the country home of its President General, Chief Nnia John Nwodo at Ukehe in Igbo-Etiti local government area of Enugu state.

Orient Daily reports that the incident has thrown the entire area and surroundings into panic. The blast reportedly emanated from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) thrown into his house by unknown persons from outside his compound. The explosion reportedly destroyed parts of his building, with ceiling and windows of the house shattered.

Reacting to the incident, Mr. Nwodo said the attackers, who threw the explosive device through the fence of his house, were cowards. He insisted that the bomb attack would not deter him from speaking on various issues affecting the country and the Igbo nation.

The spokesman of the Enugu state police command, Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the incident noted that there were no lives lost in the incident. “The State Commissioner of Police immediately raced to the scene of the incident on getting the report and while there Mr Nwodo, who was not around when the explosion happened, also came in,” Mr Amaraizu said.

Addressing the people who trooped to Chief Nwodo’s home, the commissioner enjoined them to always be vigilant and to report any strange faces to security operatives. Mr. Danmallam who described Enugu state as very peaceful, wondered why some miscreants would be after the life of Chief Nwodo who, he said, is only serving his people. He added that what happened was a sign for the need for greater security around him.

The commissioner ordered that security be beefed up in and around Chief Nwodo’s compound and promised that the perpetrators would soon be identified and brought to justice.

Earlier, the Commander of the Bomb Disposal Unit, DSP John Aniche, had briefed the commissioner and Chief Nwodo on the items they collected from the scene, including batteries, pellets and other materials used in preparing the IED. He said that they would be carefully scrutinised and analysed.

Welcoming the commissioner to his home, Chief Nwodo expressed surprise that anybody would be after his life but added that the incident would not deter him from leading his people. He thanked the commissioner for his prompt response to the incident.

Addressing the people who trooped to Chief Nwodo’s home, the commissioner enjoined them to always be vigilant and to report any strange faces to security operatives. Mr. Danmallam who described Enugu state as very peaceful, wondered why some miscreants would be after the life of Chief Nwodo who, he said, is only serving his people. He added that what happened was a sign for the need for greater security around him.

The commissioner ordered that security be beefed up in and around Chief Nwodo’s compound and promised that the perpetrators would soon be identified and brought to justice.

Earlier, the Commander of the Bomb Disposal Unit, DSP John Aniche, had briefed the commissioner and Chief Nwodo on the items they collected from the scene, including batteries, pellets and other materials used in preparing the IED. He said that they would be carefully scrutinised and analysed.

Welcoming the commissioner to his home, Chief Nwodo expressed surprise that anybody would be after his life but added that the incident would not deter him from leading his people. He thanked the commissioner for his prompt response to the incident.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) had swiftly denied involvement in the attack on Nwodo residence. Despite being tagged a terrorist group, the IPOB spokesperson, Comrade Emma Powerful insists, “We remain a peaceful non-violent group”. The IPOB spokesperson instead, suggested that the northern dominated security aparatus should explain what happened.

It would be recalled that the Ohanaeze leader and the IPOB have been engaged in heated exchanges with leaders of the pro-Biafra group attacking the Ohanaeze leader for allegedly encouraging the killings of Igbo youths under the guise of combating terrorism. The IPOB had also accused the Ohanaeze leader of guiding the presidency into declaring the IPOB a terrorist group.

The attack comes on the heels of earlier warning by the national legal adviser of the apex Igbo group last weekend alerting the immediate Igbo community of the plot to launch attacks against the south east region and personalities under the guise of aggrieved IPOB members.

The traditional ruler of Umudele in Ukehe, Igwe Lawrence Aroh, who expressed shock over the incident, thanked God for saving the life of the Ohanaeze boss. The monarch wondered why some bad elements would constitute danger to others in a country bountifully endowed by nature. He assured the commissioner that the people would be extra vigilant and that any such attempt in the future would be nipped in the bud. The Enugu State Director of DSS, Mrs. E. A. Likiyon, was also at the scene.