Undisclosed number of gunmen on Friday night attacked the constituency office of the member representing Bende federal constituency of Abia State, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, destroying office furniture, billboards and other valuables.
An eye witness who spoke on the condition of anonymity told ABN TV that the incident happened in Uzuakoli when majority of the locals had already closed their business activities for the day.
He said the assailants came in two vehicles, including a Sienna and two motorcycles, shooting sporadically, causing tension in the community as those around the environment conducting their normal business activities scampered for safety.
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Reacting to the development, Hon. Benjamin Kalu who is also the spokesperson of the House of Representatives expressed sadness over the unwarranted attack, alleging that it is politically motivated.
“That constituency office has been there since 2018 till now and it has not been attacked, but only few days to the election.
“We are really proud of what we have done for the people, many are offended and they are trying to team up to suffocate democracy that is at its best in Bende federal constituency”, he said.
While insisting that he and the people of the constituency are not deterred, the lawmaker said it will only take a thousand of such attack to shift focus from the people’s mandate.
He stated that he is resolved and determined to ensure that what belongs to the people gets to them.
He continued, “They have destroyed property, but they have not destroyed the road that we have built, they have destroyed billboards, but they have not broken the bridges that we have built, they have shattered the windows of my office, but they have not shattered the empowerment we have given to the people to be on their feet”.
He said his quest for effective representation of the people of Bende is a movement that cannot be stopped with the power of bullet.
While expressing confidence that all those involved in the dastardly act will be fished out by the security agencies, the House of Representatives member appealed to his constituents to remain calm and avoid taking the laws into their hands.
He said as a godly man and a servant leader, he is not unaware that they are all brothers and sisters in Bende and will remain so after politics, maintaining that he will not discard his principle of rancour-free politics.
The DPO in-charge of the area was on ground to ascertain the level of damage where he also assured that investigation will unmask those behind the attack.
