Gunmen attack Delta APC chairmanship aspirant

A Chairmanship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Delta State, Mr. Silas Buowe, has been shot by unknown gunmen and severely wounded in Oleh, Isoko South Council, Delta State, in a failed assassination attempt.

The victim, who was a former member of the Delta State House of Assembly, was shot at close range on his stomach along Emiye road, Oleh. He was said to have gone to Forest Holiday Hotel area on Emiye road to get a haircut when the gunmen suspected to be hired assassins waylaid him and opened fire on his vehicle.

The Guardian gathered that the popular aspirant with a large base of party supporters in the state, was blocked by the gun-wielding assailants, who intercepted and shattered his car with bullets on Wednesday.

An eyewitness of the incident, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “He went to Forest Holiday Hotel area to cut his hair when they attacked him. After the haircut, just as he was about leaving with his car, one Jetta car blocked him and open fire on him.

“Because of the closeness of the assailant who pulled the trigger, the bullet hit him on the stomach and pierced through his back. He was later rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Warri, and is in a critical condition with doctors battling to save his life.”

It was learnt that he was operated upon yesterday morning by doctors who reportedly extracted bullets from his body and treated the other injuries he sustained.

The victim, who had intensified campaign to become the next APC chairman in the state in the forthcoming convention, is also the senior pastor of Faith Teaching Bible Church, with headquarters in Oleh. He was also the former member of the Delta State House of Assembly for Isoko South Constituency II between 2003 and 2007.

The state Acting Publicity Secretary of APC, Leonard Obibi, could not immediately confirm the incident when contacted by our correspondent.
Similarly, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Andrew Aniamaka, told The Guardian that he had not been briefed about the attack. However, a senior police officer at the Ozoro Area Command confirmed the incident, saying that investigation into the attack had commenced.

Buowe’s relative, who also spoke on condition anonymity, confirmed the development when contacted on phone yesterday. The source stated that the motive for the attempts at Silas Buowe’s life was not clear.

“They shot him on the stomach and the bullets went out through his back. He is currently in theater, being operated upon at a hospital in Warri. We have been battling to save his life since yesterday (Wednesday).

“From what the doctors said, he sustained some fractures and some of his intestines were affected by the bullets. Several laboratory tests have been done and we are awaiting some of the results.”