A deadly ambush on the convoy of Dr. Kingsley Achigbu, Chief Medical Director of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), left one security escort dead and several others critically wounded along the Okigwe-Umuna stretch of the Owerri-Enugu highway last Saturday, July 26, 2025. The convoy was returning from Enugu when it encountered the armed assailants.
According to eyewitnesses and family sources, the convoy, which included a Hilux security vehicle, was riddled with bullets after the attackers opened fire without warning. The Hilux tyres were shredded, forcing the vehicle to a halt while the assailants moved in, apparently intent on seizing the occupants or causing maximum casualties.
The driver, identified only as Austine, and other security personnel managed to flee into the surrounding bush under gunfire. One officer died on the spot, while three others sustained gunshot wounds. One of the wounded was immediately rushed into emergency surgery upon arrival at a nearby hospital. Sources say all security officers managed to escape with their rifles.
After failing to capture any members of the CMD’s family, the gunmen torched the abandoned Hilux vehicle and fled into the surrounding forest before security reinforcements could arrive. The incident adds to the growing list of violent attacks plaguing the Okigwe-Umuna axis, which has become notorious for kidnappings and ambushes.
The Achigbu family, who narrowly escaped with their lives, has reportedly returned to Owerri under tight security. Family members expressed shock at the terrifying encounter and called on federal and state authorities to take urgent steps to secure highways across Imo State, which have become deadly traps for travelers.
Law enforcement agencies swiftly responded to the distress signal, and all injured officers have been evacuated and are currently receiving medical attention. Imo State Police Command has not yet issued an official statement regarding the attack, but sources confirm an investigation is underway.
This latest assault underscores growing insecurity on Nigeria’s interstate highways and raises questions about intelligence lapses and the capacity of security agencies to protect citizens and critical stakeholders. It also amplifies calls for the deployment of military-grade patrols across flashpoints in the Southeast.
