Enugu ex-commissioner attacked over land

Former Commissioner of Transport in Enugu State, Pastor Beloved Dan Anike yesterday narrowly escaped death allegedly masterminded by his kinsmen in Umuchigbo Iji-Nike community in Enugu East Local Council after he was inflicted with several machete cuts over land tussle.He is being attended to by specialists at the Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre.

The incident, The Guardian learnt took place around 2:15p.m. yesterday, where he had gone to inspect work at one of his project sites.Anike was rescued by passersby and was rushed to the Anti-Robbery Special Squad (SARS) Office, where he received First Aid treatment by a police doctor before he was taken to Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre, Uwani for further treatment.

There were unconfirmed reports also that his site engineer, Emmanuel Ogbo, was allegedly kidnapped by the suspected assailants, who were reported to have wielded several dangerous weapons and had besieged the project site.

They had reportedly tied Ogbo’s hands and legs and slammed him into the boot of their vehicle and sped off.Trouble began, when the assailants allegedly led by an official of the community stormed the site and demanded that Anike and his site engineer be beaten to stupor for allegedly, “dragging a land sold to people by the community.”

While the official watched, the boys were said to have pounced on the ex-commissioner and his men with every available object until he collapsed. Anike had told reporters that “the community leadership, whose tenure is about to elapse, has been engaged in indiscriminate resale of people’s property in the area.”

Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu said he was not briefed on the matter, but however, said he would reach out to the division concerned and report back, which he did not as at press time.