By Miracle Jude
Hon. Chief Daniel Onumara, the immediate past Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, has alleged that the lawmaker representing Njaba State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, IMHA, Hon. Benneth Ozioma Worship Ebonine, sponsored an attempted assassination on his life, an accusation the legislator has strongly denied while insisting that the matter must be settled in court.
Chief Onumara made the allegation on Monday, May 11, 2026, during a press conference held at a hotel in Owerri, where he recounted what he described as a near-death experience and expressed gratitude to God for his survival.
According to him, the incident occurred on October 12, 2025, shortly after he returned home from activities related to the APC online registration exercise.
He stated that upon arriving at his residence, he was ambushed by more than twenty armed men who had strategically positioned themselves within his compound with motorcycles.
He alleged that the attackers assaulted him, dispossessed him of valuables including his vehicle, and forcefully abducted him to an undisclosed location.
He further revealed that upon arrival at a forest hideout, the abductors identified themselves as suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, ESN, operating in the area.
While narrating his ordeal, Chief Onumara claimed that his captors informed him during captivity that they were contracted and sponsored by the serving lawmaker to eliminate him.
He added that he was blindfolded immediately after the abduction and remained in that condition throughout the journey until he later regained partial awareness deep inside the forest.
He explained that he eventually regained his freedom through what he described as divine intervention, stating that a heavy downpour forced the kidnappers to temporarily abandon their position, thereby creating an opportunity for him and another victim to escape through the forest and find their way to a major road the following morning.
Chief Onumara disclosed that he reported the incident to the Njaba Divisional Police Station shortly after his escape but expressed dissatisfaction over what he described as a lack of thorough investigation and decisive action by the relevant security agencies.
He further revealed that about a month ago, he submitted a formal petition to the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, seeking urgent attention to the matter.
According to him, his decision to go public was intended to draw wider attention, compel swift intervention from government authorities and security agencies, and prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
The allegation comes amid lingering insecurity in Njaba Local Government Area and its environs, where several violent incidents have been recorded in recent years, including the killing of two traditional rulers in 2021, an incident previously attributed by the police to suspected IPOB and ESN operatives.
At the press briefing, Chief Onumara also presented copies of a petition filed by his legal representatives, M. O. Ndubuaku Chambers, Ochasiato Chambers, dated May 8, 2026, and addressed to the Director of the State Security Services, DSS, Imo State Command, Owerri.
The petition, titled, “Petition to the Director of State Security Services, DSS, Imo State Command, on Alleged Kidnapping and Conduct Likely to Cause Breach of Peace,” detailed the claims and called for a comprehensive investigation.
The document stated that Chief Onumara was abducted at about 7:30 pm on October 12, 2025, shortly after returning from a meeting at the APC Secretariat in Owerri, adding that armed men invaded his residence, fired gunshots, assaulted him, and demanded his car keys, mobile phones, and ATM card, which he surrendered under duress before being taken away in his own vehicle.
Reacting to the allegation, Hon. Benneth Ozioma Worship Ebonine firmly denied any involvement, describing the claims as baseless, false, and politically motivated.
The Njaba Born Legislator, also dismissed a viral video by Chief Onumara, stating that the content was fabricated and intended to damage his political reputation.
The lawmaker accused the former APC chairman of engaging in political blackmail and vowed to pursue legal action to clear his name.
He insisted that Chief Onumara must substantiate his allegations in court, emphasizing his readiness to seek judicial redress to protect his integrity.
