Timeframe: May 2021 – 2022
Location: Owerri, Abuja
Key Actors: Ahmed Gulak, Imo State Police Command,
Governor Hope Uzodinma, IPOB spokesmen
Epigraph:
“The speed with which the police concluded the investigation raises
more questions than answers.”
— Premium Times editorial, 31 May 2021 [1].
The Camera Lens
Former presidential aide Ahmed Gulak’s SUV screeched to a halt near the Owerri airport road after gunmen opened fire. Within an hour the police issued a statement blaming IPOB/ESN. No suspects were presented, no forensic analysis shared. Nigerians wondered how a complex assassination was solved faster than the bodies cooled.
Gulak, in Owerri for a constitutional review meeting, was en route to the airport when attackers intercepted his vehicle [1]. Witnesses described professional execution—vehicles boxed in, shots fired at close range. Security analysts noted that the killers seemed to know his unannounced travel time.
Within hours, police announced that IPOB was responsible, citing “credible intel,” yet produced no suspects or evidence [1]. Governor Hope Uzodinma echoed the claim. IPOB denied involvement, accusing political rivals of staging a hit to discredit the movement. Weeks later the police paraded alleged killers who were conveniently dead after a supposed shootout, making cross-examination impossible [2].
By mid-June 2021, authorities declared the case closed. No trial ensued; no ballistic report was published. The Guardian noted that questions about motive, security lapses, and insider knowledge remained unanswered [2]. For many residents, the “Unknown Gunmen” narrative once again served as a shorthand for unsolved political crimes.
Ahmed Gulak’s murder remains unsolved despite official pronouncements. The rush to blame IPOB without transparent investigation undermined public trust and fed speculation that political actors exploited the tragedy to justify broader crackdowns.