photo: Governor Orji's Son Escapes Assassination, Aide Killed

The first son of Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, Chinedum, on

Saturday escaped assassination when an unknown gunman shot at his car,

as he was about to be conveyed out of the venue of a reception

organised by Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency in honour of his

father in Umuahia.

But his Personal Assistant, Mr John Ndubuka, was not so lucky, as the

bullet aimed at Chinedum hit Ndubula below the neck. He was pronounced

dead by doctors at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), where he was

rushed to after the shooting.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Eze Chikamnayo, while

speaking with journalists on Sunday at a press conference said, due to

the circumstances of the shooting, nothing could be ruled out,

including assassination. The governor's son could have been the target

of the gunshot, he concluded.

Meanwhile, the Police PRO in the state, Mr. Geoffrey Ogbonna, has

confirmed the incident, and said three suspects have been taken into

custody while investigation had commenced to establish the source and

motive behind the shooting