Delta: Ijaw leader attacked, escapes death days after endorsing Urhobo for 2023 Governorship
Hon. Dagidi Andaye, National Coordinator of Ijaw Mandate Group, has escaped death by the whiskers after some unknown gunmen stormed his residence in Iwhrekpokpor, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The assassination attempt on Andaye’s life came a few days after the leadership of Ijaw group endorsed Delta Central Senatorial District for 2023 governorship at Mosogar in Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state.
Andaye, who is Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, who narrated his ordeal to journalists during a media chat at his residence, said that in the early hours of Wednesday, November 17, 2021, he heard noises outside his house and that when he peeped through the window, he saw some gunmen numbering about six, trying to force their way into his compound.
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He explained that when they failed to break into the compound, the gunmen fired shots at the gate to gain entrance, but that the quick intervention of security agents scared them away.
When asked what could have led to the attempt on his life by suspected assassins, he said that after the Ijaw group which he is the coordinator declared its support for the Urhobo 2023 governorship, he started receiving threat calls and friends advising him not to sleep in his home for weeks.
Said he, “I believed strongly that the assassins were sympathisers of Ijaw Nation for 2023 governorship, but they have failed. I want to tell the whole world that we are not scared of what has happened but it has rather emboldened me and members of IMG to remain firm.
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“We already got trace of the suspected assassins. They will soon be arrested and their sponsors would be uncovered. We the members of the IMG are more of Ijaws than those sympathisers of Ijaw governorship ambition.
“The situation of when it is you, it should be Ijaw but when it is not you then it is not Ijaw must be stopped,” he added.
Andaye, however, remained unbent, saying Ijaws, under his leadership, would no longer be deceived.
“We have been deceived by people who claim to be contesting then thereafter meander to put people behind.
“If you are working for the Ijaw Nation, why didn’t you support bonafide sons of Ijaw that contested in 2014?” he asked.
