Unknown gunmen, estimated at over 50, yesterday invaded the Enugu State Government House, in a daring moving being purported as an attack on the life of Governor Chime Sullivan.
However, there movie like script was nipped by security operatives stationed in the Government House, who, though initially taken unawares, regained control of the premises, and repelled the offensive by the insurgents and prevented them from gaining entry.
There was palpable panic after the attack over Chime’s safety, following the invasion of the Lion Building (Enugu State Government House) by the young men, who were armed with machetes and clubs.
The invasion, which was suspected to be an attempt to either kidnap or murder the governor.
Chief Press Secretary to Governor Chime, Mr. Chukwudi Achife, in a statement, confirmed that vigilant security personnel attached to the Lion Building foiled an armed attack on the Government House.
Commenting on the incident, Achife said the attack occurred at about 4.30am, when a group of young men, numbering about 50 and carrying machetes and cutlasses invaded the Government House and tried to force their way in.
“The attackers were immediately engaged by the security personnel, who shot dead one person and arrested three,” he stated, adding that one security personnel was injured in the attack.
Achife stated that the arrested persons, along with some of the weapons (machetes) recovered from them, had since been handed over to the Enugu State Police Command for further investigations.
In their own account, the Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebere Amaraizu, said: “No fewer than three persons have been arrested by the operatives of the command, as investigations into the incident have commenced in full scale.”
Chime had, in recent times, been in the news for not-too-pleasant reasons, an example being the crisis that engulfed the governor and his wife, in which he was said to have illegally placed his First Lady under house arrest.