A near-fatal incident was averted on Wednesday after the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, and his family escaped being killed in a fire incident at his official residence in Abuja.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, who insinuated that the incident was an assassination attempt.
Ifoh stated that though the LP National Chairman and his family did not sustain any serious injury, the victims were rushed to a private health facility for medical treatment.
The statement read, “The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure, early this morning allegedly escaped an assassination attempt on him at his Abuja residence. His residence was also gutted by a mysterious fire which started a few minutes after 1 am while Abure and the members of his family were asleep.
“According to a member of the family, who narrated the incident, the family was woken up by neighbours and seurity men living in the compound who raised the alarm. The entire family was trapped as the inferno had reached the staircase, making it impossible for Abure and his family to escape.
“However, it took divine intervention for the national chairman and his family to escape after neighbours and security men gallantly pulled down one of the windows upstairs, making way for the family to escape.
“Men of the fire service arrived shortly after Abure and his family were evacuated.
“Abure and his family were rushed to a private hospital where they are presently receiving treatment. Their condition is however stable.”
The Abure and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress have been embroiled in tussle for the control of Labour Party.
The NLC, under the leadership of Joe Ajaero, had recently picked LP state offices nationwide in an attempt to force Abure out.
Abure alleged that the NLC members vandalised and carted away party property during the protest.