Former Anambra State Governor and ex-Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige, has assured the public that he is safe and in good health following an attack on his convoy by armed men disguised in military and police uniforms along the Nkpor–Nnobi Road in Idemili North Local Government Area.
Ngige clarified that the incident, which occurred on Thursday, should not be interpreted as an assassination attempt. He explained that although the vehicle and his long-time driver are well known in the area, available information suggests the attack was part of ongoing insecurity in the region rather than a targeted plot.
The former minister noted that his driver, who has served him for 22 years and once worked as his pilot driver during his tenure as governor, may have inadvertently driven into the armed group while returning from a mechanic workshop.
According to reports, the gunmen had earlier launched an assault in a neighbouring town, attacking and burning a police patrol van at Ezi-Owelle and fleeing with a rifle after officers abandoned their vehicle. They were believed to have encountered Ngige’s convoy shortly afterward, with indications that they were primarily hunting for security uniforms and weapons.
“I am alive, I am well and kicking. It is not an assassination plot; it’s an insecurity situation,” Ngige said.
During the encounter, the police inspector serving as Ngige’s corps commander sustained a gunshot wound to the leg. He was taken to the hospital, where he underwent surgery on Thursday.
Security agencies are said to be investigating the incident as part of broader efforts to curb rising armed attacks in the state.
