Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Gunmen have reportedly invaded Amakor village, Nanka Community in Orumba North Local Government Area, Anambra State, where they kidnapped eight persons and injuring twelve in the process.
An eyewitness who refused his name on print said the incident occurred on Wednesday where the people were hosting an ozo title-taking ceremony.
The source who said his escape was miraculous, recounted that the ceremony was ongoing when the daredevil kidnappers stormed the arena and overpowered security agencies on the ground.
“The policemen guarding the venue attempted to resist the attackers but were overpowered. Without any explanation or engagement with the organisers of the event, the men began to scatter things at the venue, intimidate, and brutalise many of the participants and organisers.
“They rained kicks on some of the organisers, while the armed men stood by, including some dressed in police uniforms,” he said.
He further explained that after the assault, about eight people, including the Amakor village Chairman, Barr. Obinna Ilo, Emerie Ilo, Sam Eminike, and Chief Asina Okafor, were forced into a waiting Sienna vehicles and driven to an unknown location.
The source lamented that the whereabouts of the abducted individuals remain unknown, as no official contact has been made with their families by the abductors.
He also stated that, the kidnapped individuals’ phone numbers have been switched off since the incident.
He said the identities of the abductors and their motives remain unclear and have created uncertainty for the families and the entire community.
He also mentioned that Mr. Peter Emerie Ilo and Chike Ilo, brothers of the Amakor village Chairman Barr. Obinna Ilo, and Madueke Nwafor, were being initiated into the Ozo society at the well-attended event before the attack.
“While the event was reaching its climax, some armed men, some of whom covered their faces, stormed the venue.”
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Ikenga Tochukwu, said he was unaware of such incident. He advised that effort should be made to report to the nearest police station.
On the appearance of the abductors in police uniform, he said “Police don’t kidnap, and police don’t abduct. If they were arrested, the police would have reached out to their families and allowed them to make calls.”
