Tukur escapes attempt on his life

• Media aide raises the alarm

Former national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bamanga Tukur, narrowly escaped an attempt on his life along the ever-busy Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport road, Abuja.
According to a statement by Prince Oliver Okpala, special adviser to Tukur, said the incident happened when the former PDP chairman was going to the airport on Friday, on his way to Owerri to receive a doctorate degree award at the Federal University of Technology (FUTO), Owerri, Imo State.
He stated that as Tukur’s convoy, made up of four sport utility vehicles (SUVs), was driving to the airport, “a tinted Hilux emerged and attempted to break into the convoy heading towards Tukur’s jeep when his security escort prevented the attempts.”
Okpala said due to the resistance, “the Hilux forcefully ran into the convoy, hitting and damaging three of the SUVs, including that of Tukur. The occupants of the Hilux demanded that the door of the car should be opened and the occupant pulled out.
“The Hilux occupants fought to dispossess the security men escorting Tukur of their guns and this met some resistance. In the process, the occupants of the Hilux manhandled the policemen, but Tukur and his driver cleverly escaped.”
The media aide said when Tukur was being smuggled into the lounge of the airport, “the same people again tried to reach him, possibly to execute their motive, but the airport security now joined his security details to subdue them, before Tukur was quickly rushed to the departure hall.”
He said the police have been notified of the incident.
Confirming the incident, Tukur said it was the mercy of God that saved him, as the occupants were hell bent on getting at him.