Gunmen kidnapped a Lagos-based businessman in Umuoma Nekede Municipality, Owerri West Municipality, Imo State.
Three gunmen confronted the victim, Umunna Onyeukwu, who was in his car parked near the premises in Umu Ikea, Umuoma. Then they took him away.
According to a report by the Daily Post, an Indigenous community member said on Tuesday that the kidnapping had caused confusion in the neighborhood.
Given that the man had just returned from Lagos, he claimed that the incident, which took place around 7am on Sunday evening, is currently causing panic in the neighbourhood.
According to a community source who wished to remain anonymous, the victim was returning from Central Primary School, where he had gone to play football, unaware that some men were following him.
“So when he parked his car near his house and was trying to come out of the car, the men moved swiftly towards him and pointed gun at him ordering him to get back to his car. Immediately they forced him into their car and drove off,” he said.
When newsmen visited Onyeokwu’s compound on Tuesday, the family members were too traumatized to talk.
It was gathered that the kidnappers have not contacted the family.
According to a source close to the family, “we have not made contact with the abductors. We are pleading for his release.
“We are dumbfounded because such a thing has not happened in our community before. We have not heard or seen abductors coming into a compound to kidnap people before.”
However, when contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Michael Abattam highlighted that the Divisional Police Command is yet to brief them in respect of the ugly incident and promised to brief the press with further details.
