Abia Governor Alex Otti says he is safe after unidentified gunmen opened fire on his advance convoy near Owerri airport in Imo State; no casualties reported.
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has confirmed he is unharmed after unidentified gunmen attacked his advance convoy on the morning of Tuesday December 2, 2025, near the airport in Owerri, the capital of neighboring Imo State.
The incident occurred along the route leading to Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, a busy transit corridor outside Owerri. According to officials, three members of the governor’s advance team were travelling ahead of his main convoy when their vehicle came under fire between Umuowa and Ihite junction, just before the airport turn-off.
Governor Otti’s Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, said the governor was not in the convoy at the time of the attack and had not yet departed for the trip. Ukoha issued a statement shortly after the incident, stressing that no fatalities were recorded and that security agencies were immediately notified.
The attack prompted swift concern in both Abia and Imo States, where authorities have been grappling with intermittent security challenges in recent years, including sporadic assaults attributed to armed groups. The region has witnessed heightened tensions linked to criminal gangs and separatist activity, although officials said it was too early to determine who was responsible.
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Local media reported that the attackers appeared to be fleeing the scene when they opened fire on the Governor’s advance team. The motive remains unclear, and officials have not indicated whether the attackers specifically targeted the convoy or encountered it by chance while escaping an earlier confrontation.
Ukoha described the incident as “unfortunate” but urged the public to remain calm. He noted that the Governor had been fully briefed and that security around the Governor’s movements has since been reinforced. “The general public is hereby informed that the convoy of Governor Otti was not involved in this attack, and no lives were lost during the incident,” he said.
The Imo State Police Command had not issued an official statement at the time of reporting. Security analysts say an investigation will be necessary to determine whether the attack is linked to broader unrest in the region or represents an isolated act of violence.
Governors in southeastern Nigeria have increasingly tightened travel protocols due to periodic attacks on security personnel, political figures, and public infrastructure. Tuesday’s incident is expected to intensify calls for coordinated regional security strategies between neighboring states.
Despite the attack, officials say Governor Otti’s schedule remains unchanged, and he is continuing with official engagements planned for the week.