An Owerri-based human rights lawyer, Mr. Frank Ugboma, escaped assassination Thursday as he was shot.
Ugboma, a native of Oguta local government area of Imo State was driving his Toyota saloon car back to Owerri after dropping of one of staff at Ogbaku when the incident occurred.
Speaking on the incident at his chamber in Owerri, he said a group of assassins numbering about 10 waylaid him at Ogbaku, shouting and ordering him to stop after blocking his way with a log of wood.
He said as he engaged the reverse gear and they opened fire on him, shattering his driver’s side mirror with bullets which also pierced through his left shoulder.
Ugboma disclosed that he bent down at this point thereby giving the impression that he had died.
The lawyer said the assassins felt too that he had passed on and left the scene without removing anything from his car.
He further disclosed that he contacted the police about an hour later on phone, after regaining composure.
Ugboma said a team of police later arrived the scene, drove him to Ogbaku Police Station where the necessary report was lodged before driving him to a nearby hospital where he is receiving treatment.
According to him, an x-ray shows that some bullets were still lodged in his body.
Ugboma alleged that the incident could have links with a matter he was doing for a former commissioner in the state whose residence and office were recently invaded by people suspected to be agents of the state government.
The lawyer said he could not be cowed because “if one speaks out, they will kill one; if one doesn’t speak out, one will die someday.”
He quickly submitted “they cannot kill me because God is on throne.”
