Prince Henry Odianosen Okojie, the federal lawmaker representing Esan North-East/Esan South-East Federal Constituency in Edo State, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt on Friday, News About Nigeria reports.
Okojie, who is also the husband of Nollywood star Mercy Johnson, was reportedly attacked by armed men believed to be political thugs at his Uromi residence.
The incident was confirmed by Okojie’s media aide, Michael Ihaza, in a statement released following the attack.
According to Ihaza, the assailants arrived in a Lexus GX 470 with a Rivers State registration number—PHC 253 FF—and stormed the lawmaker’s home.
The attackers, disguised as police officers, managed to gain entry into the sitting room before being confronted by security personnel assigned to Okojie.
Due to their swift intervention, the plot was averted, forcing two of the armed men to flee, leaving behind the driver and another suspect. Both are now in police custody, undergoing interrogation by the Nigeria Police Force at the Uromi Area Command.
According to the suspects’ confessional statements, they were allegedly sent by leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Esan North-East Local Government Area to carry out the attack.
The statement read; “The armed thugs who disguised as police officers along with two others, invaded the residence of Hon. Okojie, claimed to be on appointment and proceeded to the seating room.
“Following the intervention of the security personnel attached to the lawmaker, two of the armed thugs fled, leaving behind the driver and another who are currently being interrogated by officers from the Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Uromi.
“The suspects have so far made a confessional statement stating that they were sent on the mission by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Esan North East Local Government Area.”
