6th July, 2012
One week after a pharmacist was abducted and killed in Ebonyi, kidnappers have again struck in the state, taking away the wife of a church leader.
Mrs Rose Okorie, the wife of the lay president of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Abakaliki Archdiocese, was kidnapped by six gunmen at Ngbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.
The abduction comes one week after the Chief Executive Officer of Godal Pharmacy, Mr Godwin Nwosu, was kidnapped and killed by unknown persons.
Sources close to the family revealed that Okorie, a nurse and staff of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, was abducted at her private hospital, Little Seeds Clinic, Ngbo.
“She was kidnapped on Wednesday morning when she visited the hospital, as the gunmen invaded the premises, seized and forced her into her car before zooming off,” the source said.
Chief Peter Okorie, the victim’s husband and Chief Executive Officer of Pro-Concept Hotel, Abakaliki, said she had not been released by her abductors.
“The abductors are yet to establish contact with the family or have they placed any ransom on their victim,” he said.
Confirming the incident, the Ebonyi Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Sylvester Igbo, said the command got a distress call from the victim’s husband.
“Immediately the call was received, a stop-and-search team consisting of mobile and plain-clothes policemen was deployed to track the kidnappers.
“Though the victim’s husband did not give a clear picture of the vehicle the abductors used, our men were able to track the suspected vehicle around Ohaukwu.
“On observing that the police were trailing them, the abductors abandoned the vehicle, took their victim and ran into the bush,” he said.
Igbo said he had not ascertained whether the abductors took their victim into another car.
“Our men are, however, combing all the bushes in the area to ensure that the perpetrators of the act are apprehended,” he said.
He warned criminals in the state to leave immediately or meet their waterloo and urged the people to always avail the command of useful information that would lead to the arrest of criminals.
Meanwhile, Gov. Martin Elechi has condemned last week’s kidnap and killing of Nwosu.
The governor regretted the constant abduction of innocent citizens in the state and urged the police to brace up to the challenge and arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly act.