Gunmen abduct, release Anambra community leader

Some yet-to-be-identified assailants abducted and released the President-General of Abatete community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Ezebinobi Ezigbo.

According to Metro gathered that the hoodlums kidnapped Ezigbo late on Tuesday, a few hours after he attended the swearing-in ceremony of the new Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, by the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.

However, he was said to have been released on Wednesday by his captors after spending a night in captivity.

A source and resident of the community, who pleaded anonymity bacause he was not permitted to speak with the media, said the PG, a kinsman of the new-appointed commissioner, was trailed to his house by his abductors, who monitored him from Awka, where he attended the swearing-in ceremony.

The sources said, “The kidnappers trailed him with their vehicle when he was returning to his house at about 6:30 pm on Tuesday, after the swearing-in of the new Commissioner for Information.

“On getting to his house, the assailants jumped out of their vehicle, surrounded him at gunpoint and ordered him to alight from his vehicle, after which they whisked him away in their own vehicle.”

However, our correspondent gathered that the victim regained freedom and safely returned to his home on Wednesday.

Although it could not be immediately ascertained if any ransom was paid to secure his freedom, a community leader confirmed to our correspondent that he had regained freedom and reunited with his family.

“Yes, he has regained his freedom and right now, has reunited with his family members. I cannot tell if any ransom was paid or not,” he added.

Similarly, some hoodlums kidnapped two persons in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of state on Monday evening.

According to eyewitnesses, the Oba kidnap happened around the Agip Junction of the community.

The sources said, “The kidnappers, after abducting their first victim from his vehicle, on their way going, observed that the vehicle was not moving fast, then stopped two more vehicles at the Idemili end of the road and abducted the occupants, abandoning the other vehicles behind and drove off.

“Although one of their victims escaped, the abductors went away with about two other victims.”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, could not confirm both incidents as he said he had no information about the alleged kidnap.