Alleged Assassination Plot: Ex-APC Chairman, Chief Daniel Onumara Accuses Imo Lawmaker, Hon. Benneth Ozioma Ebonine (Ezengwori)

…..Ozioma Denies Claims, Alleges Political Blackmail

By Our Correspondent

Hon. Chief Daniel Onumara, the immediate past Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, on Monday, May 11, 2026, during a Press Conference  held in an Owerri Hotel, raised a weighty allegation against Hon. Benneth Ozioma Worship Ebonine (Ezengwori, Ahaejiagamba), the serving member representing Njaba State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly (IMHA), accusing him of sponsoring an attempted assassination on his life, while expressing gratitude to God for his survival.

Chief Onumara alleged that the incident occurred on October 12, 2025, shortly after he returned from activities relating to the APC online registration exercise.

According to him, upon arrival at his residence, unknown armed men, numbering over twenty of them, with their motorcycles, had allegedly laid ambush within his compound, attacked him, dispossessed him of his valuables, including his vehicle and forcefully whisked him away to an unknown destination.

He further stated that the abductors later identified themselves as suspected operatives of IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) and ESN (Eastern Security Network) upon reaching a forest hideout where he was held captive.

While narrating his ordeal, Chief Onumara claimed that his captors disclosed during his captivity that they were contracted and sponsored by the lawmaker representing Njaba State Constituency to eliminate him, as he alleged.

Chief Daniel Onumara revealed that he was blindfolded immediately after he was kidnapped and remained so throughout the journey until he later regained partial awareness and discovered he had been taken deep into a forest by his captors.

He explained that he eventually regained his freedom through what he described as divine intervention, noting that a heavy rainfall forced the abductors to temporarily abandon their post, thereby creating an opportunity for him and another victim to escape through the forest and reach a major road the following morning.

Following the incident, Chief Onumara disclosed that he reported the matter to the Njaba Police Division as at the time of the incident.

However, he expressed dissatisfaction over what he described as the lack of substantial investigation or decisive action by the relevant security agencies regarding the serious allegations at Njaba Divisional Police Station.

Chief Daniel Onumara further disclosed that, about a month ago, he submitted a formal petition to the office of the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, regarding the matter.

He explained that his decision to address the press was driven by the need to bring the issue to public awareness and prompt swift intervention.

According to him, exposing the situation will compel government at all levels, security agencies, and other relevant authorities to take decisive action.

The development comes amid persistent insecurity in Njaba Local Government Area and its environs, an area that has witnessed several violent incidents 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.

Observers believe the allegation reflects deepening political tensions within the local political structure, particularly among stakeholders of the APC in the area.

During the press conference, Chief Onumara also presented copies of a petition written 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, for wider public awareness.

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,” outlined the claims of the petitioner and urged urgent investigation.

According to the petition, Chief Onumara was allegedly kidnapped at about 7:30 pm on October 12, 2025, after returning from a meeting at the APC Secretariat in Owerri.

The document stated that armed men invaded his residence, fired gunshots, assaulted him, and demanded his car keys, mobile phones, and ATM card, all of which he surrendered under duress before being forced into his vehicle and taken away.

Meanwhile, Hon Ozioma has denied the allegations alleging political blackmail.