ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- A civil society group, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), has blamed the Imo State Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for attack on the country home and properties of Ikenga Ugochinyere, the spokesperson for the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP).
The Intersociety, while commiserating with Ugochinyere, his family, CUPP, political associates and party (PDP), calls for investigation into the mayhem.
The group made this known through its Board of Chair, Emeka Umeagbalasi, in a statement on Sunday.
Voiceofnaija.ng had reported that no fewer than 50 gunmen reportedly attacked the residence of Ugochinyere, and killed his uncle.
According to Ugochinyere in a seemingly distressed tweet on Twitter Saturday afternoon, the unknown persons are also setting a house ablaze, suspected to be his residence.
“We need help in Akokwa Ideato North Local Government Area, Imo State. My uncle has been killed now.. They are setting everything on fire. Please help,” he tweeted.
Also, a political correspondent and a relative of the victim identified on Twitter as Ijeoma Osamor, confirmed the incident on Saturday.
“As I pen this, all the cars in my house have been set ablaze and there is heavy shooting for the past 25mins. Painfully, as I speak to you, I saw them kill my father’s younger brother, Uncle Dan.
“I pray and call for urgent help from anybody who can help. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere.”
A series of video footages showed dead bodies, burnt houses, vehicles and campaign materials at Ugochinyere’s country home.
In one of the videos trending on social media, a man narrating the incident, said several vehicles had been destroyed, and Ikenga’s house razed.
“They have destroyed his house, they have destroyed his vehicle, at his compound here in Akokwa. They came with arms and guns, they killed one of his security (men), they shot so many people; happening right now at Ikenga’s compound,” the voice narrated.
Reacting, the group said: “Intersociety deeply commiserates with Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere Imo, his family, CUPP, political associates and party (PDP) over unimaginable destructions visited on his country home and defenseless properties by Imo State base “Government Unknown Gunmen” in which Government of Imo State and INEC are inescapably vicariously liable.
“Going by near-total collapse and brazen incompetence of the country’s investigative and prosecutorial security agencies and their high commands, Intersociety is compelled to demand for international civil and criminal investigations into the Akokwa Mayhem.
“The European Union, Canada, UK, US and other credible and powerful western democracies and relevant UN democracy and rights bodies are strongly called upon to take urgent and appropriate diplomatic steps to compel the Government of Nigeria to fish out perpetrators of political mayhem within its establishments and those in the sub-national political entities.
“The referenced international actors are also called upon to under further steps in blacklisting and appropriately sanctioning those found to be directly and vicariously involved at national and sub-national levels.”