Prof. Protus Nathan Uzorma, whose World Bank Housing Estate Owerri residence was last Wednesday, August 20, 2014, invaded and bombarded by suspected hired assassins, has accused Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha, of sponsoring and masterminding the near fatal attempt to kill him.
The Erudite Scholar, Social Crusader and Political Activist in his recent disclosures gave reasons for alleging that the Imo State Governor is behind the devious invasion of his abode by dare-devil hoodlums who broke into his residence, shot sporadically shot at random, ordered everyone in the lounge to lie face down while curiously wanting to identify and kill Prof. Nathan Uzorma.
And these include that the attempt started on March 17, 2013 when 4 men armed to the teeth stormed the same house at about 5AM looking for Prof. Protus Nathan Uzorma’s whereabouts. When it was obvious that their target, Prof. Uzorma was nowhere to be seen, they left a message that if they had seen him they would have amputated the hands with which he writes against Governor Rochas Okorocha. Besides, the ring leader of the August 20, 2014 invasion, one “Shimo” had recently called Prof. Protus Nathan Uzorma on his handset warning him against further criticizing the Okorocha’s government. “What is amazing however is that the same “Shimo” who frowned and expressed deep seated bitterness at the things I wrote against the government of Owelle Rochas Okorocha, and warned me that my life is in danger of being exterminated, led the 7 demons that came to kill me at World Bank”.
The said Shimo was at the incident disarmed by the gallant police men who responded to the distressed call by the police orderly attached to Prof. Protus Nathan Uzorma, after several request for protection, when the threats to his life, became unbearable. Though he sustained heavy gun shots, the ring leader Shimo was alive to confirm that they were sent to kill Prof. Protus Uzorma even though he could not recognize the Prof. by face or voice when eventually they met eyeball to eyeball that faithful day. After the more than 30 mins gun duel and exchange of fire arms between the police and the suspects, which resulted in two of the gallant police officers sustaining several bullet shots, Prof. Uzorma, a great philosopher and miracle healer, called the number with which the criminal “Shimo” had threatened his life severally and behold it rang in his pocket several minutes after he came face to face with Protus Uzorma, and confirmed they came on rampage looking for the Social Crusader. “Shimo” could not survive the gun shots which ripped open his intestines and so eventually died in the process bringing to 4 the total number of hired assassin.
Another victim of the superior fire power from the police is one Ohaji Egbema ex-militant whose father is a Deacon in the Assemblies of God Church. He lives in the remote village of Umuguma from where operates and had, only three days before he met his waterloo in the hands of the police, summoned his parents and siblings and vowed to eliminate them if after 3 days they did not contribute N300,000 for him. The embattled family was full of celebrations when they heard the news of the death of their terrorist brother.
Prof. Protus Nathan Uzorma who alleged that it is the hand of the Imo State government led by Owelle Rochas Okorocha that played out at his house, praised the men and officers of the Imo State Police Command who God used to rescue him and his family, saying, “I am satisfied with the level of investigation already accomplished by the police. I owe them my sincere gratitude you cannot imagine that despite several gun shots some of which pierced through the walls and roof of my residence, no single member of my family was hurt”.
The incident he said started at about 10.35 PM that faithful Wednesday, when seven able bodied men, some of who were recognized by the police team as hardened criminals, ex-convicts and notorious men of the underworld laid siege on his house. Some were stationed outside on surveillance while others forced their ways into the living room and ordered everyone to lie face-down. They were still asking, “where is Prof. Protus! Where is Prof. Protus!!” when a call put across to the State Commissioner of Police by the orderly resulted in men of ATS, Scorpion, New Owerri Command etc who were detailed to ensure no escape of the criminals arrived and cordoned off the place before opening fire which was instantly returned by Shimo, the Capon. The said Shimo according to Prof. Protus, was also identified as a dismissed police constable. While 5 of them were caught, among which 3 died on the spot including Shimo who died later, another one who was unarmed and stationed outside the house as surveillance was arrested alive.
When Community Watchdog Correspondent enquired from Prof. Protus Nathan Uzorma, whether as a prominent and erudite Professor and practicing journalist, the Governor of Imo State or any of his agents has called to sympathize with him, he claimed that not even the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor who had cause to publish some of his articles in the past had called to sympathize with him. He however hinted that so many people living abroad and other concerned citizens within Nigeria have been buzzing his handset to confirm what they have heard. He regretted that a Governor whose primary responsibility is to provide security and shelter to the citizens could display such level of non-challant attitude and insensitivity.
“What really happened was a great shock. I am still having a nightmare over the attack. All the National and local dailies published the report of the rampaging assassins, yet there has been no reaction from the Imo State government. It means if my entire family was wiped out they would be celebrating. The life of the police orderly attached to me is equally in danger. The other day while driving to school, we were chased after but God intervened. This is where I disagree with police report that what happened in my house was an armed robbery attack. When they came in, they never asked for money of property but, where is Prof”. Continuing, Prof. Uzorma said, “I feel excited because we have a responsible police. I am indebted to the police force. From that backdrop, I have come to realize that police are truly our friends. Without them, it would have been a disaster. My house hold would have all died because they would not let the killers go away after eliminating their bread winner”.
Asked to mention in particular any of his articles that could have elicited that level of animosity that could result to someone especially those charged with protecting lives resorting to taking lives by force, the university don turned political activist who said that he still sees strange faces lurking around his house exclaimed that Governor Okorocha should know his days at Douglas House are numbered. “Come 2015, Imo Youths will vote him out. Whoever attempted to kill me has forgotten who I am. My hands are clean. I have only assisted in giving this administration, a sense of direction. I therefore call on the federal government, SSS, Police, Imo Stakeholders and other law enforcement agencies, to come to my rescue. If you stop me from writing, you can’t stop me from thinking. What happened was a premeditated thought after all. All stakeholders and elder statesmen including the Human Rights Commission should come to any rescue now that I am alive and not when I die.
Courtesy: Community Watchdog Newspaper
