Can I describe him as the proverbial cat with nine lives? Yes, the university don and one of the regular Trumpeta columnists who also writes for other newspapers, Prof Uzoma Protus Nathan has cause to thank God and his stars again. For the upteenth time, Prof Protus according to him miraculously escaped attack from gun men who stormed his residence for yet to be disclosed reasons but not unrelated to an assassination attempt.
The suspected plot to eliminate the vitriolic writer who focuses on contemporary issues that affect the polity, emanates from the character of the assailants who stormed his residence and demanded for him two weeks ago. But for men of the Nigeria Police Force, Imo state command, who put in a spirited effort and gallant show to overpower the seven-man gunmen who came after the philosophy teacher made a call, it would have been nunc dimitis for the university don. In a chat with Trumpeta newspaper after the nightmarish experience the family had with armed men. At about 10:30 pm that Wednesday, seven armed men stormed his residence somewhere in World Bank Estate, New Owerri, where they not only gained entrance but also surrendered the entire family on gunpoint and requested to see Prof.
According Protus, no item or money was demanded from members of the family except the word “Where is Prof?, Where is Prof?
Since it was difficult for the hoodlums who did not disclose their mission for the unannounced invasion to properly indentify the Prof, he took a duck and quietly put a call across to police who within moments raced to his house to engage the criminals in a gun duel that lasted for an hour after which four of the invading suspected assassins lay dead, one caught alive with bullet wounds while two escaped.
Even as the state command of the Nigerian Police according to the spokes man, Andrew Enwere, A Deputy superintendent of Police, DSP, during a press briefing declared that the felled criminals were suspected armed robbers, the victim, Prof Protus thinks different and feels the failed attack was targeted at eliminating his life.
Giving more insight into his claim, the Prof argued that the gunmen never asked for any item from his household and could not pick a pin from the house during their period of occupation which lasted for minutes.
“They did not take anything or ask for money, phone or any dime. What they were asking was “where is Prof, Where is Prof? They saw my family, but still went ahead to ask “where is Prof? Which means they are after me, and it was only in my house they bandits invaded in the Estate”.
Recalling a similar experience his family encountered sometime in March last year, Prof Protus added “in similar fashion, armed men also invaded my house last year, but this time I was not around. They tormented my family requesting to see Prof. that is me, but unfortunately I was not in the house. After confirming my absence they pulled out but without failing to inform my family they were seeking for me to cut off those my hands I use to write”
This repeated experience informs Prof that he needs no soothsayer to inform him that his life is in danger and that prompted him to cry out in the interview that some people are after his life. “Yes, they are after my life. It is unfortunate they have not told me my offence and why they want to kill me”
Prof Protus outburst exposes level of insecurity and threats to lives of journalists, activists and social commentators who use several means to condemn ills in the society.
The Trumpeta Columnist whose title “Hidden Truth” adorns the back page of every Tuesday edition of the tabloid confessed that he has been receiving phlethora of text messages and calls threatening his life before the invasion of the bandits. “I keep getting calls and messages from unknown persons who threaten my live for undisclosed reasons”
Yours truly belongs in the same category of those who receive ceaseless threatening calls and text messages from hidden identities. I have catalogue of anonymous calls and messages from yet to be identified persons who disturb my life. I must commend the state police command for the rapid response it showcased on the night the seven-man gang invaded Prof Protus home. I urge them to continue in showcasing such gallantry against men of the underworld.
However, the police command investigation bureau needs to re-jig its intelligence machinery to give a deeper thought to the version of Prof Protus that the suspected gang was after him that fateful night,
Considering the previous encounter he has had and repeated threat calls and messages onto his phone, it behoves on the police to verify reasons why only the house occupied by Prof Protus among other residents of the area will be under attack on two occasions between March 2013 to August 2014 police are expected to juxtapose the two accounts and let Imo people know the true account. With 2015 fast approaching, security operatives should also devise strategic means to protect lives and property of stakeholders in the state. Mysterious deaths and brutal murder of certain persons in the past demand involvement of proactive measures by all organizations charged with protection of lives in the state.
Residents of the state are yet to forget the sad memories of how a protocol officer in the office of the Deputy Governor Laz Anyanwu lost his life. Not too long ago, an American based entertainment guru, who relocated to Imo, Noel Tochukwu of the Imo Got Talent fame was also gruesomely murdered in a hotel room in Owerri.
The inability of concerned authorities to make further disclosures about the arrests of suspects and sundry investigations of undercurrents related to the arrest is another disturbing trend about claims and counter claims on police account of suspected robbery case and Prof Protus’ assassination attempt report.
