Gunmen kidnap Edo PDP Chairman, party tasks FG on rescue.
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Edo State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Tony Aziegbemi, was on Friday kidnapped by gunmen a few metres from his residence off the Government Reservation Area in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
He was said to have been trailed by his abductors who were said to be in two Toyota Corolla cars, overtook his jeep along Odaro Street off Country Home road close to his house at about 11 pm.
Aziegbemi who is said not to have police protection was said to have left a night meeting in the government house when he was been trailed by his abductors.
Confirming the incident, Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said: “That is confirmed, it is in the jurisdiction of New Etete Police Division, also known as Godwin Abbe Police Station, that is where it happened.
“The Commissioner of Police has given marching orders to the tactical teams of the operatives to go after the hoodlums and we pray that by the grace of God all hands are on deck and we will be able to rescue him unhurt”.
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Meanwhile, the driver to Aziegbemi narrated how his boss was kidnapped and said, “When we left the government house heading home at about 11 pm, I noticed a car trailing us so I decided to take another diversion. We never knew they were kidnappers.
“A few minutes later, the same cars appeared behind us at a speed breaker point and blocked our car in the front and immediately the gunmen pointed guns at us and ordered our chairman to enter their car and took him away.”
Reacting, the PDP has challenged the Federal Government to perform its primary function, which is to secure the lives and property of Nigerians.
The party described the rising spate of kidnappings and other related crimes as worrisome.
It also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Aziegbemi.
The party’s reaction was contained in a statement signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja on Saturday.
He said, “The PDP expresses serious concerns about Dr. Aziegbemi’s abduction, which further points to the alarming failure of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled Federal Government in its primary duty to ensure the security and welfare of Nigerians as provided under Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
“Our Party is distressed by the alarming spate of abductions of helpless Nigerians in various parts of the country, particularly the recent kidnap of about 286 schoolchildren in Kaduna State and others in Sokoto State, who are still being held in horrifying and traumatizing conditions in their abductor’s den.
“It is heartrending that the APC administration continues to give false assurances while Nigerians are left at the mercies of kidnappers, bandits, terrorists, and marauders without corresponding concrete effort to check the ugly occurrences.
“Our Party calls on the Federal Government to end its laidback attitude to security by immediately rejigging our national security architecture, especially in the areas of intelligence gathering, security command, and control coordination, in a manner that not only proactively ensures the safety of citizens, but also guarantees rapid response and effective rescue operations.
“The PDP commends our gallant security personnel in their patriotic effort to secure our nation and urges them not to relent despite the daunting challenges.
“The Party also commends the efforts of the Edo State Governor, Governor Godwin Obaseki, particularly in the deployment of effective security frameworks and structures which the security agencies should leverage on to further guarantee the safety of citizens in Edo State and other parts of the country.
“While calling on Nigerians to be prayerful, alert and continue to support our security agencies, the PDP charges the Security high command to take urgent steps to secure the release of Dr. Aziegbemi and all other Nigerians trapped in abductors’ camps in various parts of the country.”