Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Chairman, Board of Trustees of Petroleum Retailers Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, Chief Obasi Lawson, who was abducted along Azunmiri Road in Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State, has been rescued.
His rescue is coming barely one month after his abduction by armed men around 19:000 hours.
Commissioner for Information, Abia State, Prince Okey Kanu, who announced this at a press briefing in Umuahia, said the oil baron was rescued unhurt, and in good state.
Chief Lawson who is the owner of SOBAS, hails from Arochukwu but lives in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He was kidnapped on March 4, 2025, while returning from Arochukwu to Port Harcourt.
His abductors who were operating in a Sienna car, killed his driver and a security personnel escorting him before whisking him away to an unknown location.
The Abia State Police Command, had in a statement issued after his abduction, said: “A dark blue Sienna vehicle carrying unidentified gunmen double-crossed them and opened fire on Lawson’s convoy while they were returning to Port Harcourt through Azumini Ndoki, Ukwa East Local Government Area.
“While the officers were repelling the attack, another set of gunmen forcefully took Chief Lawson, ordered them into their vehicle, and took him to an unknown destination, leaving his driver and one other dead.”
Addressing newsmen in Umuahia on the matter, the Information Commissioner, warned traditional rulers and President Generals of various Communities in the state against harbouring criminals in their domains.
He threatened severe punishment against anyone flouting the directive.
The Commissioner enjoined them to be vigilant and report all cases of suspicious movements involving criminal elements to security agents.
He said: “As is usual with security matters, I may not want to go into details of what happened to the businessman, but the state government is advising Abians to remain vigilant. Town unions and traditional rulers must be alive to their duties of keeping watch over their domains.
“The state government is frowning seriously at this and the warning is that if you are caught in the act of harbouring criminals, you will be treated as one.
“Of course, let me reiterate the old cliche that when you see something, you say something. We have to even go further to say that when you see something, take action by making discreet reports to the security agencies,” Kanu said.
He added that Government would also monitor the activities of royal fathers in the state with a view to fishing out any of them that colludes with criminals.
