Anambra state commissioner for Youths Development, Patrick Aghamba, and his wife have been allegedly kidnapped. The commissioner’s aide, whose name was given as ABK Offiah was allegedly killed in the process.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Coming on earlier report of the abduction of about 20 medical students in Benue state by suspected gunmen, Anambra state commissioner for Youths Development, Patrick Aghamba, and his wife have been allegedly kidnapped. The commissioner’s aide, whose name was given as ABK Offiah was allegedly killed in the process.
Details of the incident were sketchy by press time, but according to sources, they were travelling to Abuja, when they were kidnapped along the way on Friday.
They were said to be travelling to Abuja to attend the wedding of the daughter of the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Adaora, scheduled for Saturday
Confirming the incident on the telephone, a top government source said the incident happened at a yet-to-be-confirmed location in Edo State.
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The source said, “Yes, we are aware the incident happened. The state government will react to the development soon. Sources said the commissioner was on his way to Abuja to attend a function.
“No information yet concerning the situation, as no one has reached out to any of the family members or the state government yet, until he is released we will know exactly what happened.”
On why the commissioner did not go by flight, the source could not give further details.
Meanwhile, the state police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the command heard about the information and escalated the incident to other state commands for possible action as the incident did not happen in Anambra.
The abduction comes on the heels of earlier reports of more than 20 medical and dental students, being kidnapped along with a House Officer, in Benue State.
The students were en route the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) annual convention in Enugu when they were ambushed by gunmen, according to Vanguard reports.
The victims, reportedly from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos, were traveling together when the attack occurred around 5:30 p.m. in the Otukpo area of the state.
The spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, SP Catherine Anene, has reportedly confirmed the incident adding that an investigation has been launched into the abduction.
“Yes, the report of the kidnapping is true. It was received between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., and an investigation is ongoing,” she said.
The Benue incident took place few days after gunmen, killed the President General of Umucheke Okwe Autonomous Community, Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State, Chief Hyginus Ohazurike.
They also killed six other leaders of the community.
A source in the community who pleaded anonymity said the community leaders were having a meeting at the President General’s shop when the attackers came.
According to him, the gunmen who stormed the area in a vehicle, shot the seven persons in the meeting and set the place ablaze.