Attempt on Ekweremadu’s life: It’s burglary, not assassination attempt, says police

The Police has arrested one Mohammed Yusuf (of no fixed address), a native of Kauranamuda, Zamfara State who broke into the residence of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, at the early hours of Tuesday in Abuja.

While the police authorities said it was a case of burglary which is receiving its attention, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ekweremadu through his media assistant, claimed it was a case of a failed assassination attempt.

Police said in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Jimoh Moshood, on Tuesday in Abuja that one of the suspect – Ali, is at large and have been declared wanted.

“The residence of Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu on No 2, Jim Nwobodo Street, APO Legislative Quarters, was broken into by Mohammed Yusuf of Kauranamuda, Zamfara State, who was arrested at the scene and now in Police custody along with one Ali (other name unknown) who escaped from the scene at about 0430hrs of Tuesday, November 6, 2018.”

“The Police has commenced investigation into the crime and the principal suspect, Mohammed Yusuf of Kauranamuda, have volunteered confessional statement after interrogation admitting to the crime and mentioned one Ali (other name unknown) now at large, who escaped from the scene to have carried out the crime along with him.

“Exhibits recovered from them includes (i) Motor Jack (ii) Big Screw Driver (iii) A big Rod (iv) A small kitchen knife and other house breaking implements.

“Preliminary investigation carried out so far did not reveal assassination attempt on the life of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his family but a case of Burglary.

“However, investigation is still ongoing to determine if there is any other motive behind the offence.

The same suspects had earlier at about 0300Hrs broken into the residence of one Mr. Haliru Adamu of No. 38 Denis Osadebey Crescent, APO Legislative quarters where they stole phones, jewelleries and other valuables before proceeding to the residence of the Deputy Senate President”, the statement said.

“The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Mr. Haliru Adamu have made statements to the Police about the two incidents.

“There was no delay in Police intervention in the incident that occurred in the residence of the Deputy Senate President.

Four (4) Police personnel and One (1) personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps on duty at the residence of the Deputy Senate President at the time of the incidence have been arrested and currently in detention for investigation for negligent acts and dereliction of duty.

“Investigation into the two cases are ongoing and the outcome is going to be made public and suspects will be prosecuted”, it added.

But early on Tuesday, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, had raised the alarm over an attempted assassination.

Senator Ekweremadu had said in statement by his Special Adviser, Media, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, that himself, his wife and son have escaped an assassination attempt at about 4 a.m. on Tuesday.

He said some armed men discreetly evaded the security at Ekweremadu’s Apo Quarters residence to gain entry into his house.

“The attackers, who could not immediately shoot in order not to attract the attention of the security personnel on duty, took hold of his son, and commanded him to lead them to the senator’s bedroom.

“It was at the senator’s bedroom that a struggle ensued, leading to the arrest of one of the assailants with dangerous weapons and housebreaking devices, while the rest managed to escape.

“The arrested member of the gang has, however, refused to divulge any information on the operation and has been handed over to the police.

“Ekweremadu, his wife, and one of his sons were in the house at the time of the attack,” he said.

Anichukwu said that a similar attempt was made on the lawmaker’s life in 2015 but alleged that though the incident was reported to security agencies, nothing was done to that effect.

It would be recalled that Ekweremadu reportedly escaped an attempt on his life in Abuja on Nov. 17, 2015.