How I escaped death, by Gen Obada

By Emma Amaize & Festus Ahon

UGHELLI — FORMER Federal Commissioner for Works, Major-General Orho Obada (rtd.), yesterday, narrated how he escaped death by the whiskers from kidnappers in Delta State.

Meantime, National Vice Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, South–South, Dr. Steve Oru, who was shot, weekend by suspected kidnappers said, he ran into the gunmen by accident, adding that they were neither kidnappers nor assassins.

Speaking to Vanguard, Obada said, “I would have been dead by now, but God kept me alive. My car, which was riddled with bullets is packed in my garage as a Museum piece. I have no problem with anybody and I wonder why people are after me.

“I was going to Iyede, last month, for a convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses at 8am, when my car was blocked by some young men in camouflage army uniforms. My driver made a u-turn and tried to drive against traffic when I sighted a man in army uniform squatting. He opened fire on my car. He was wearing a brown khaki army uniform.

“He wanted to kill my driver, the way he was shooting, but God did not allow him. I saw death staring at me but God stopped it and we drove to the police station, where I lodged a report and I asked my driver to return home. We picked another car and proceeded to the convention at 10.30 am because I believed the enemy wanted to stop me and as retired general, I will not give him that chance.”

The  PDP chieftain, Dr. Oru, who was shot, Saturday, was at Obada’s house to sympathize with him  before he fell victim to the criminals. Oru, in a statement by his Special Assistant, Mr. Monday Okotie, said: “I, along with my driver and police orderly, ran into dare-devil armed bandits at Agbarho.

“My police orderly, was shot and killed on the spot. I was shot on the back and dispossessed of my valuables; my driver escaped unhurt. I wish to state that the entire incident was neither a kidnap nor an assassination attempt on my person.  I was not the target; it was a mere coincidence.

“I wish to express my profound gratitude to my governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for his personal intervention, Prof Amos Utuama, deputy governor of Delta State and Secretary to the State Government,  Mr. Ovuozorie Macauley for their visit to the hospital.

“I also wish to thank Chief Anthony Anenih and Alhaji Bamanga Tukur who rushed me to the hospital.”