Chief Boniface Mgebu, a former Permanent Secretary in Ebonyi State and a member of the State Independent Electoral Commission, was attacked by suspected hoodlums on his journey from Abakaliki to his village, Noyo Alike, in the state’s Ikwo LGA.
According to reports, the attack occurred at 7 p.m. on the Obubura-Enyida route in Abakaliki LGA, when his Hilux Jeep, cash, phones, and other valuables were set on fire.
Chief Mgebu, who spoke from his hospital bed at Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital (AE-FUNAI) in Abakaliki, claimed he was ambushed by two armed persons who wanted to either forcefully take his vehicle or kidnap him to an unknown location.
Mgebu said, “On my way from Abakaliki to my village, immediately I passed the junction before Polycarp Market in Izzi, I saw something like a mini roadblock. I slowed down towards the road. The next thing I saw was a young man who immediately and forcefully stepped into my driver’s side, struggling with the steering wheel with me.
“In the process, the second person opened the passenger door and entered with a gun, leaving me at the centre. I held the hand of the one who showed me the pistol. The other one was struggling to control the car’s steering and moving very fast to an unknown place.
“From the movement of the car, it was as if they noticed that some people had discovered that something was wrong. They now increased the speed of the car, and I was still struggling with the second person.
“The next thing I knew was that the car jumped into a ditch, and immediately, fire exploded. I don’t know if they ignited the fire or the car fuel ignited the fire. But how I survived and was brought to the hospital was a miracle.
“I have made an entry at the police station in Abakaliki. I am also reaching out to my people and calling on the state governor to come to my aid in areas of my hospital bill and replacement of my car that was burnt to ashes with my vital properties inside the car that were also consumed by the fire.”
