CRIME
Tension in Ariaria as NURTW Abia Chairman, Chukwuma Azode, Narrowly Escapes Alleged Assassination Attempt Amid Escalating Political Undercurrents
…as Attempt Linked to OUK’s Loyalist and Coorperative Union President, Ozurumba
Panic gripped Ariaria International Market, Aba, on Friday after the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Abia State Council, Mr. Chukwuma Azode, popularly known as China, narrowly escaped what multiple sources describe as a well-coordinated assassination attempt by armed hoodlums.
The violent incident occurred at a motor park within the bustling Ariaria market and reportedly threw commuters, traders, and drivers into chaos as gunshots rang out, forcing many to flee for safety.
Multiple sources within the transport sector and the Ariaria market community allege that the attack was carried out by armed thugs loyal to Chidi Ozurumba, also known as Baron, a political associate and known loyalist of former Abia State Governor and current Senator representing Abia North, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.
Observers and stakeholders have linked the incident to rising political tension in Abia State, particularly the deepening rivalry between Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and the present administration of Governor Alex Otti. Sources recall recent public comments attributed to the former governor, which were widely interpreted as aggressive and suggestive of a forceful attempt to regain political control of the state.
Against this backdrop, the violent targeting of Mr. Azode, widely regarded as a strong ally of Governor Otti and a key figure overseeing transport unions in the state, is being viewed as a troubling signal of a dangerous escalation in the political struggle.
According to intelligence from eyewitnesses and security sources, the incident unfolded at about 2:20 pm on Friday, 6 February, when Mr. Azode was on an official visit to Anyaehie Park, off Ariaria International Market. The visit was said to involve routine inspection and sensitization of transport workers on Permanent Voter Card (PVC) registration.
During the engagement, drivers and union members reportedly raised complaints over alleged illegal extortion, intimidation, and violence at Park 2, Ariaria. The activities were attributed to one Mr. Johnson Nwaogu Odoemenam, who was accused of unlawfully operating a motor park popularly referred to as Crical Park.
The complainants further alleged that the illegal operation was being protected by armed enforcers working with individuals identified as Chief Collins Onyeozor, Chief Linus Agumba, Bassey Etim, and Chidi Ozurumba. Mr. Azode was said to have assured the workers that the matter would be addressed appropriately.
Unbeknownst to him, armed hoodlums had allegedly already been mobilized to track his movements. Reports indicate that the attackers initially stormed Park 2, believing Mr. Azode was already present. When they failed to locate him, they reportedly unleashed violence on drivers, passengers, and traders, extorting money, assaulting victims, and firing gunshots to instill fear.
Eyewitnesses recounted that the armed men, wielding pistols and axes, fired several shots into the air while robbing people within the park, deepening the atmosphere of terror.
It was after Mr. Azode concluded activities at Anyaehie Park 1 and proceeded toward Anyaehie Park 2 that the attackers allegedly redirected their focus toward him. Upon his arrival, the hoodlums reportedly ambushed him and opened sporadic gunfire.
However, operatives of the Abia State Vigilante Service attached to Mr. Azode responded swiftly, engaging the attackers and successfully foiling the attempt. The armed men were forced to retreat, fleeing into the crowded Ariaria market.
In the midst of the confusion, two young drivers, said to be bleeding profusely, reportedly ran to Mr. Azode to narrate how they had been attacked minutes earlier at Park 2. Subsequent findings indicated that the hoodlums had specifically gone to the park to locate Mr. Azode and, upon failing to find him, vented their violence on innocent commuters and traders while waiting for his arrival.
Several eyewitnesses further alleged that some of the assailants were heard making threatening remarks during the attack, suggesting that the incident marked the beginning of a broader confrontation.
Recovered items and testimonies at the scene reportedly point to youths loyal to Chidi Ozurumba as the masterminds of the attack. Mr. Ozurumba is said to manage one of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s motor parks along Park Road by Adazi. Further revelations indicate that items recovered, including first caps bearing the inscription Cooperative, suggest the attackers are members of a defunct transport union known as the Cooperative Motors Union, where Mr. Ozurumba is alleged to serve as National President.
Following the incident, Mr. Azode immediately alerted relevant security agencies. As of the time of filing this report, the affected motor park has been sealed, while security operatives have launched an intensive manhunt for the perpetrators, who remain at large.
Meanwhile, fear and tension continue to linger over Ariaria International Market, as passengers, drivers, and traders recount harrowing experiences ranging from physical assault to the loss of daily earnings, with many calling on authorities to ensure las
ting security and accountability.