A businessman, Mbah Emeh, has been kidnapped in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State.
It was gathered that the victim’s Toyota Highlander was recovered by the police at Umule on the outskirts of Aba.
Sources said the abductors have demanded N10million, but no family member could be reached for comments.
Commissioner of Police Adamu Ibrahim was also unavailable.
The Majority Leader of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Mr. Sam Nwali, who was kidnapped about 9:30am on Wednesday, was rescued by the State Security Service (SSS) operatives yesterday.
The lawmaker was kidnapped at Nna Street in Abakaliki, the State capital, on his way to a meeting.
Sources told The Nation that Nwali was accosted by four men, who blocked his car, pushed him out, bundled him into their car and sped off.
But the SSS officials rescued him after his colleagues reported the incident.
It was learnt that the victim was rescued near the boundary between Ikwo Local Government and Cross River State and that he was manhandled by his captors.
About 3pm yesterday, Governor Martin Elechi was seen on the premises of the SSS visiting Nwali.
Also at the place were the legislators, who were loyal to Speaker Helen Nwobasi.
At press time, it was gathered that arrangements to transfer the majority leader from the SSS headquarters to a hospital were allegedly thwarted by SSS operatives.
Nwali, representing Ikwo North, was one of the 18 lawmakers who impeached Mr. Chukwuma Nwazunku and installed Mrs. Helen Nwaobasi.
But a faction of the Assembly loyal to Nwazunku disagreed with the action, describing it as illegal.
Nwali’s kidnap followed the attack on Tuesday of another member of the Nwaobasi group, Nnenna Nweme, by suspected thugs.
Efforts to get the lawmaker to speak on the incident were unsuccessful, as the SSS officials drove reporters out of their premises.
•Firms launch Indian law books
A former Lagos State House of Assembly member, Mr Babatunde Ogala, has urged the Federal Government not to reveal the identities of the abducted school girls in Borno State.
He said doing so would contravene the Child Rights Law, which forbids exposing identities of children who are victims of crimes.
Ogala spoke in Lagos during the launch of the Eastern Book Company, India, in Nigeria. The company, said to be India’s leading law publisher, partnered with a Nigerian publisher, The Book Company Limited, to distribute its products and services.
Highlighting one of the books, Law Relating to Women and Children, Ogala said the girls’ abductors are known, as opposed to when a child gets lost.
Ogala urged EBC “to do an aggressive marketing” of its “good titles”, some of which are: A debate over rights; Administrative Law; Business Law; Code of Civil Procedure (Volumes 1-6), Company Law; Competition Law; Constitutional Law; How to frame a charge under Penal Code and Criminal Acts; Law of Arbitration and Conciliation, Law of Insurance; Contract Law; Jurisprudence and Legal theory; Criminal Law and Procedure, among others.
EBC’s Managing Director Mr Vijay Malik said Nigeria and India have a lot in common and could learn from each other.
“The foundation of both our legal systems is the common law of England, and therefore the case law of both systems has precedent value in the other country.
“EBC also has as its objectives the development of legal thought and jurisprudence in Nigeria, through the publication of books authored by local writers.
“To this end, we welcome all those who would like to author books on Nigerians laws, to work with us and make this possible.
“EBC also looks forward to empowering legal professionals and contribute to the continued development and strengthening of the rule of law in Nigeria,” Malik said.
The Book Company’s Managing Director, Mr Dayo Alabi, said with the reputation of both companies, “provision of legal materials, information and services is definitely set to experience a positively drastic revolution within the shortest period.”
Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State High Court said she hoped the ‘marriage’ between EBC and The Book Company would be long-lasting, adding: “I’m sure their books will be of immense value to us here.”
An on air presenter and comedian working for Port Harcourt, Rivers State based Cool FM, Mr Anthony Akatakpo who was abducted last Thursday, has been released.
He was released on Thursday morning although details of how he was freed were still sketchy.
Akatakpo who goes by the moniker of Diplomatic Akas was snatched by gunmen from his resident in the Garden City.
He was shot by his abductors who later whisked him away.
A source in Wazobia FM told The Nation, “Akas Baba has been released; he is presented being treated in a private hospital. We are so happy.”
His release led to wide celebration in Port Harcourt, particularly around CoolFM office located along the East West Road.
Suspected kidnappers yesterday abducted the former coordinator of Okposi Development Centre in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Mr. Ihebunandu Okorie.
He was kidnapped inside the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Obioha Okposi, about 1pm, after attending service.
It was learnt that the gunmen waited for him on the church premises and whisked him away in his car, a Toyota four runner sport utility vehicle (SUV) with registration number NCA 94 AA.
A witness told our correspondent that the kidnappers came in a green Mercedes 230 Benz v-boot with a Lagos number plate BS 559 KJA.
“As he was coming out of the church, the abductors shot into the air, forcing people to scamper for safety.
They bundled him into the boot of his car and zoomed off.
“Before they escaped, they deflated the tyres of the Mercedes Benz car with bullets. They also tried to set it ablaze by shooting at the fuel tank, but it didn’t catch fire,” the source said.
Police spokesman Chris Anyanwu said he was yet to get the details of the incident.
Freed lawyer Mike Ezekhome told yesterday of how his son, Ilugbekhai Ozekhome and his adopted son, Dominic Ezerioha, were abducted last Friday by the same gang and kept with him till 7am yesterday when they were freed.
He said: “This is my son, Ilugbekhai and a junior lawyer in my Abuja chamber, Dominick, whom I also call my son because he is dear to my heart. Having given their numbers with my friend’s Benson Igbanoi, who was the chief negotiator, to the kidnappers, they said that they needed to negotiate with my children.
“They said they were the only people they want to negotiate with, that they are the people they can trust. They called Benson and I told him to tell them and when he gave them the phone I told them I cannot deceive them that the kidnappers have said they want to negotiate with them and that I can only be released when they talk with them.
“As soon as the two of them came, they were also kidnapped and kept with me till this morning (Thursday morning).
“All of us in the camp were released and I believe they may disband the camp haven.”
Ilugbekhai also narrated how they were abducted by four men, who he initially thought were policemen because they had bulletproof vests on.
He said the kidnappers had told him and Ezerioha to come to a particular place after they had asked them to drive through various routes within Benin City.
“They called us and asked us to stop there, somewhere around the bypass and less than three minutes after we stopped, four men wearing bulletproofs came to us and searched us to be sure we had no chips on. We drove through different routes for about four hours with our faces down before we got to where my dad was.”
Few days after his kidnap, an Imo State pharmacist, Kelechi Uchendu, has been found floating on Okwuohia river.
The victim, who was suspected to have been drowned by his abductors after he was kidnapped while returning from work, had bullet holes riddled all over his body.
A family source said the kidnappers had contacted the victim’s wife of and demanded ransom.
“The family had pleaded with the kidnappers to spare his life while we try to meet their demand but they went ahead and killed him and dumped him in the river,” he said.
The source, who could not confirm if the family paid the ransom, said Uchendu’s body was discovered by villagers, who went to fetch water.
A police source said the victim may have died from the gunshot injuries he sustained while struggling with his abductors.
“The police had advised the family to speak with the victim to ensure that he was still alive before negotiating or paying the ransom.”
Police spokesperson Ms. Joy Elemoko confirmed the incident.
• Wife abandoned on desolate road
• Blame CP Mbu for insecurity –Amaechi
THE Anglican Archbishop of the Niger Delta North Diocese, the Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey and his wife, Beatrice, were on Friday night kidnapped close to Port Harcourt in what the Rivers State Government called the latest evidence of the deteriorating security in the state under Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu.
The couple were abducted at Aleto-Eleme, the bishop’s home town at about 11.30pm.The wife was later abandoned in the couple’s car while the abductors went away with the clergy.
He is the second highest ranking official of the Church of Nigeria, being next only to the Primate, Dr. Nicholas Okoh.
Kattey and wife were on their way to Port Harcourt, when the kidnappers struck near the two Eleme Refinery and the Indorama-Eleme Petrochemical Company.
His whereabouts was unknown last night with the abductors yet to state their reason for seizing him. They have not demanded a ransom either.
Governor Rotimi Amaechi, in his first reaction to the kidnap blamed Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu for the rising insecurity in the state.
It was learnt yesterday that the kidnapped cleric was scheduled to receive the Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, in Port Harcourt yesterday and decided to leave his personal house in Aleto-Eleme for the Rivers State capital on Friday night to enable him put finishing touches to preparations for the arrival of the visitor.
It could not be confirmed at press time if Okoh was able to visit Rivers State.
Another source said the couple decided to set out for Port Harcourt that late to enable them beat the usual Saturday traffic restrictions occasioned by the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
Unknown to them, however, the exercise had been cancelled in view of the ongoing WAEC/GCE examinations.
A senior member of the Anglican Church in Port Harcourt, who would not want his name in print, said the bishop detests the idea of going about with police escorts.
He chose to live in his personal house in Aleto-Eleme from where he goes to St. Paul Cathedral, Diobu, Port Harcourt, which serves as his official base.
Kattey is described as a very simple and easy-going cleric. His kidnap occurred barely two weeks after the Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Fred Igwe, was shot at Akpajo-Eleme in the same Eleme LGA on August 25.
Igwe was severely injured and is still receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.
His car was riddled with bullets.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Angela Agabe, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed Kattey’s kidnap and said the prompt response of the police to the kidnap forced the criminals to abandon Beatrice and the couple’s car.
Agabe was optimistic with the effort of the policemen, the Bishop would soon be released unhurt and the kidnappers apprehended and prosecuted.
Amaechi, through the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, regretted what he called the upsurge in kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, militancy and other vices in the state under Mbu.
The same Mbu, he alleged, has continued to allow ex-militants to protest on the streets of Port Harcourt, an action the governor said has emboldened criminals.
Amaechi had earlier called for Mbu’s immediate redeployment, which he described as the only condition for peace in Rivers State, having accused the CP of taking sides in the deepening political crisis.
Gunmen on Monday kidnapped Ibrahim Audu, younger brother of the former Kogi State governor and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Abubakar Audu.
Ibrahim, 40, who operates a chain of filling stations in Kogi State, was reportedly abducted by five armed men at 7.30pm from his home in Alloma, Ofu Local Government.
It was learnt that the gunmen arrived the businessman’s home through the Ejule end of the road.
Ibrahim was said to be sitting outside his home when the gunmen seized him.
In a statement by his Media Assistant, Eleojo Abubakar, the former governor, who is on holiday in the United States, confirmed the incident.
But he explained that the family was yet to establish contact with the kidnappers.
“Though it is too early to draw conclusions, we know this is politically-motivated. The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in Kogi State is afraid of the tsunami that will befall the party in the forthcoming elections with the successful registration of the APC.
“They know they are doomed to fail at the polls in any election in the state. So, they have resorted to this criminal antic of intimidation. But we hope the security agencies will apprehend the perpetrators,” he said.