8th June, 2011
The father-in-law of the Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, has been abducted, P.M.NEWS has learnt.
Sources said that Chief Felix Okungbowa was yesterday afternoon kidnapped in Benin City, the Edo State capital, when unidentified men armed with machine guns stormed his house located on Ewasede Lane off First East Circular road.
The incident, it was learnt, took place while his son in-law who is the deputy governor of the state, was attending a tree planting event organised by the Ministry of Environment at Urhonigbe in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
The whereabouts of Chief Okungbowa was still unknown at the time of going to press as the assailants were yet to contact his family.
No ransom has been demanded either.
The Chief Press Secretary, CPS, to the Deputy Governor, Kelly Odaro, told P.M.NEWS this morning that efforts are being made to rescue the elderly man.
Although the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Peter Ogboi, could not be reached for official confirmation, police sources confirmed the incident.
They disclosed that the police were trying to establish contact with the kidnappers to free the victim.
The incident created confusion among close aides of the deputy governor who made spirited efforts to alert him about it.
Security operatives of the state anti-crime outfit, Operation Thunderstorm, were said to have been making frantic efforts to free Chief Okungbowa.
The spate of kidnappings in the state was very high some months ago until security agencies tackled it decisively. It also subsided when traditional rulers openly performed some rituals during which kidnappers were cursed.
