The Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Anambra State, Chief Ugochukwu Okoye, was left battered and bruised after a vicious attack by a group of unidentified assailants in Awka, the state capital, yesterday evening.
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Eyewitnesses described the incident as a “brutal ambush” that unfolded around 7pm near the commissioner’s residence in the Government House area. Okoye, a prominent figure in Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration known for his advocacy on youth empowerment and sports development, was reportedly set upon by five men wielding sticks and machetes as he returned from a routine meeting at the state secretariat.
“The attack was savage. They dragged him out of his official vehicle and beat him black and blue before his security aides could intervene,” said Mr. Emeka Nwosu, a local trader who witnessed the assault from his nearby shop. “Blood was everywhere, and he was shouting for help. It took the intervention of passersby and police to scare them off.
Okoye was rushed to a private hospital in Awka where he is receiving treatment for multiple injuries, including a fractured arm, deep lacerations on his head and torso, and severe bruising.
Sources close to the family confirmed that he remains in stable condition but is under close medical observation. His spokesperson, Mrs. Adaora Eze, issued a brief statement last night, saying, “The commissioner is responding to treatment and appreciates the outpouring of support from well-wishers. We urge the security agencies to apprehend those responsible.”
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, but speculation is rife that it could be linked to ongoing political tensions in the state.
Anambra has witnessed heightened rivalries ahead of local elections, with reports of sporadic violence involving supporters of various political groups. Okoye, a former athlete and community leader from Nnewi, has been vocal in his criticism of youth involvement in thuggery and cultism, which some believe may have painted a target on his back.
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