By Peter.
In a shocking incident, an advance team from the Office of Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Chioma Otti was ambushed by unidentified gunmen in Imo State on Tuesday morning, December 2, 2025. The attack occurred along the Umuowa-Ihite junction on the Owerri-Aba Expressway, shortly before the Sam Mbakwe Airport Junction.
Details of the Advance Team Attack
According to a statement from Abia State Chief Press Secretary Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, the three-member team was heading to the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport for official duties when their vehicle came under fire in the early hours. The officials escaped unharmed, though visibly shaken.
“In the early hours of today, December 2nd, an advance team of three members from the Office of the Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, on duty to Sam Mbakwe Airport, Imo State, was attacked by unidentified gunmen. The incident occurred between Umuowa and Ihite junction, shortly before the Sam Mbakwe Airport Junction in Imo State.”
The statement clarified that Governor Otti’s main convoy was not involved, and no lives were lost. Abia and Imo security authorities are investigating, but no arrests have been made as of press time.
Separate Bus Passenger Abductions on Owerri-Aba Road
In a related development on the same stretch of highway, gunmen numbering about 10 ambushed three commuter buses traveling from Owerri to Aba around the same time. Passengers were reportedly offloaded and marched into nearby bushes.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as oncoming vehicles fled, with one source confirming at least 14 passengers abducted from the buses in Ngor Okpala LGA, Imo State. A bullet-riddled Lexus SUV was left behind, its windshield shattered.
Imo State Police spokesperson DSP Henry Okoye confirmed the bus incident but noted it had not been officially reported:
“The Commissioner of Police has deployed tactical units to conduct robust fact-finding patrols along the Owerri–Aba Express Road. Further details will be communicated in due course.”
It’s unclear if the bus abductions and advance team attack were linked, but the proximity and timing have raised alarms about heightened insecurity on the route.
Broader Security Concerns
The Owerri-Aba Expressway has become notorious for kidnappings and armed robberies, with multiple incidents reported in recent months. Travelers are advised to exercise extreme caution, avoid night travel, and report suspicious activity.
Abia State Government has urged calm, assuring that joint security operations are underway. Updates expected from both Imo and Abia police commands.
Stay safe on the roads—authorities are investigating.
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