By Anayo Okoli & Tony Edike

 A retired Army General, Josesph Okoloagu has shot dead  a member of a kidnap gang that attempted to abduct him in Aba, Abia State on Monday.

 Okoloagu, a former Nigerian Military attaché to Pakistan, was attacked by suspected kidnappers Monday  night while  travelling to Port-Harcourt in his 604 Peugoet car at Alaoji-Ugwunagbo axis of  Aba – Port-Harcourt expressway.

The Action Congress chieftain was in company of his private driver and a security detail when the heavily armed kidnappers surfaced from a bush and opened fire on his vehicle, forcing it to a halt.

 
According to eyewitnesses, policemen on duty at a checkpoint 50 yards away from the scene, escaped on hearing sounds of gunshots, leaving Okoloagu and the two other persons in his car at the mercy of the hoodlums.
 
The young men immediately surrounded the car and one of them moved to grab the already wounded ex- Army General who sat on the car owner’s side of the back seat.
 
Surprisingly, as soon as he drew near, Okoloagu pulled out his revolver and emptied all the bullets on the kidnapper who screamed in pain and slumped thereafter.
 
According to motorists who watched the scene from a distance and nearby bushes, the other kidnappers immediately retreated and took cover from where they exchanged fire with the retired General, whom one of them said, “just refused to give up.”
 
The gunfire attracted an army patrol team and the kidnappers reportedly fled on sighting the soldiers.
 
The ex-army General  and the two other occupants of his car who also sustained bullet injuries were rushed to Riverine Hospital, Umungazi, Aba, where they are receiving medical attention under heavy security provided by a platoon of soldiers from Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.
 
Speaking  on phone from his sick bed Tuesday, General Okoloagu said that his driver was still in coma as a result of the wound on his head, stating that his security detail who was shot in the hand was responding to treatment.
 
“Yes, kidnappers attacked us in Aba on my way to Port-Harcourt yesterday evening. They shot me on the chest, shot my security detail on the hand and shot my driver on the head. I was able to kill one of the kidnappers who came to take me with my revolver before I made my escape,” Okoloagu said.
 
He said, “My driver is still in coma but we are praying that the bullet did not touch his brain. I am only alive today because of my personal gun. What of the people who don’t have guns?
 
“I think everybody in the country should a own gun since the government can no longer protect us. There is no government in Abia State.”
  
He added that he had earlier spoken with the Police Area Commander in the area on the incident.
 
When contacted on phone, Police Public Relations Officer, Abia State Command, Ali Okechukwu, said he was yet to be briefed on any of such incident.
 
He said on phone, “I will make contacts to know the police station it was reported and possibly get details. You can call me back for more information when I must have made my enquiries.”