TWO SUSPECTED ATTACKERS DIE AFTER NDC CANDIDATE’S CONVOY COMES UNDER FIRE IN EBONYI

By NaijaParrot October 23, 2026 

 ABAKALIKI, EBONYI STATE — Two men suspected of involvement in an attack on the convoy of a Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the Ebonyi State House of Assembly have reportedly died following an exchange of gunfire with security personnel. The incident reportedly occurred on Thursday afternoon as the convoy of Rollins Offia Nwali, the NDC candidate for Ezza South Constituency, was returning from Amazekewe community. According to SaharaReporters, security sources said the attackers opened fire on the candidate’s convoy, prompting security operatives attached to his team to respond. One of the suspected attackers reportedly died at the scene, while the second was said to have died later in hospital. However, the identities and political affiliations of the men had not been independently confirmed at the time of the report.

Nwali confirmed the incident in a statement shared on his Facebook page, saying armed men attacked his motorcade while the team was returning from Amazekewe. He disclosed that his Toyota Hilux was set ablaze and completely destroyed during the attack. The candidate said he and members of his team escaped unharmed, while expressing appreciation to the security agencies for protecting them during the incident. Nwali also expressed sympathy for the families of those reportedly killed, noting that the loss of human life was regrettable regardless of the circumstances. He appealed to young people not to allow themselves to be drawn into political violence, warning that no political ambition was worth the life of any individual. 

 Although the attackers were described in the original report as suspected APC supporters, SaharaReporters stated that it could not independently verify their identities or party affiliations. The allegation should therefore not be treated as proof that the APC, as a party, organised or authorised the incident. No official police account confirming the circumstances of the shooting was available in the report. SaharaReporters said its attempts to reach the Ebonyi State Police Command’s spokesperson, Joshua Ukandu, were unsuccessful at the time of publication.

 The incident comes amid heightened political activity ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections and follows reports of attacks involving opposition supporters in parts of the South-East. In a separate incident in Enugu earlier in October, NDC supporters were reportedly attacked during activities surrounding the party’s governorship campaign. The violence led to the death of party member Ifeanyi Nwolie, according to reporting by TheCable. 

The latest incident in Ebonyi has renewed concerns about the safety of candidates, campaign teams, party supporters and other participants in political activities. Security agencies are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack, identify those involved and determine whether any criminal offences were committed. A transparent investigation would also help clarify the reported deaths and establish whether the incident had any organised political connection. 

 NaijaParrot — Hear It First, Hear It True!