Despite the presence of the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, in Asaba, Delta State on Wednesday, gunmen abducted Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s cousin, Sam.
According to eyewitnesses, Pa Uduaghan was forced into his Toyota Camry Car at the gate of his house on DLA Road, Asaba, by the hoodlums, who reportedly stormed the house with an unmarked Sports Utility Vehicle.
The incident took place just as the IG was addressing journalists on the efforts of the force to curb crime in the state at the Presidential Lodge where he formerly presented the rescued footballer, Christian Obodo.
However, family sources said the kidnappers were yet to
contact the Uduaghan family to make their demand known.
Pa Uduaghan, who was kidnapped in Asaba, was said to have driven out of the house and was just coming out of his car to lock the gate when the gang surrounded him.
A security meeting ostensibly meant to resolve the crime wave in the state was still in progress between the IG, the governor and other stakeholders at the time of filing this report.
The police boss who was glad at the arrest of six persons in connection with the abduction of Obodo, decried the development.
Those paraded by Abubakar were Paul Okpoiowa (25), Lucky Otekere (22), Solomon Ojakpa (28), Maduabuchi Okafor (19), Ogbeteni Justice (31) and Ochuko Orukere (22).
Also recovered from them, according to the IG, were one AK 47 rifle and 59 rounds of ammunition.
On the occasion, the police boss also received 60 patrol vehicles and some communication gadgets donated by the state government to the state command.
The governor, who presented the vehicles and the gadgets to the police boss, said the state government since 2007 had donated 110 patrol vehicles and two Armoured Personnel Carriers to the police.
The IG however disagreed with the governor over the release of former anti-kidnap chief in the state, Dickson Osamwonyi.
While Uduaghan said the resurgence of kidnapping in the state was not unconnected with the release of Osamwonyi, a Chief Superintendent of Police, who had earlier been accused of aiding the crime, the IG differed.
The governor said, “There was a drastic reduction in the incidence of kidnapping during the absence of the police officers when they were apprehended and taken to Abuja, but soon after their release, the crime peaked.”
But Abubakar defended the position of the force, exonerated Osamwonyi and six members of the squad from any complicity.
Abubakar said the force was unable to find any concrete evidence against the state anti-kidnapping squad.
He said, “We have investigated and we didn’t find any evidence against the police officer. I want to be fair and just to everybody, I don’t want to prosecute anyone because they say someone is a thief and there are no evidences to prove that the person is a thief.”
News credit: Punch
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