Nigeria: Gunmen Kidnap Delta SSG’s Father
July 21, 2008
21 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Victor Efeizomor
Asaba
Father of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Secretary to Delta State Government, was yesterday kidnapped from his country home at Boji Boji Owa, in Ika North-east Local Government Area, by a four-man gang suspected to be militants.
The gun men, stormed the number 2, Amokwu Street , off Efeizomor road, home of Chief Arthur O.U Okowa, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, at about 11a.m.
The 70-year-old man was said to have returned from an early morning Sunday Church service, at Anglican Church, Boji Boji Owa, at about 10:30a.m., and was in his bedroom when a househelp informed him that he had some visitors.
Oblivious of what was in stock, Okowa, who is the Ojuyagbe of Owa Kingdom, asked the househelp to usher in the visitors into the house, after having been told that they were carrying bags, and on business trip .
According to a family source, Okowa emerged from his bedroom, when the four-man gang pulled the gun and asked him to cooporate or he will be shot dead.
THISDAY gathered that the gun men, who had been hanging around the neighbourhood for about five hours, tied his hands and sealed his mouth.
The househelp was also tied and locked in one of the toilets in the house. Okowa was subsequently led into his Operus Hyundai Executive Saloon car, with the inscription, "Ojuyagbe" on the number plate and whisked away.
Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr Jacob Oshiomoh, when contacted through the telephone, simply said, "I have not been told , I am going to call the area commanders for further confirmation."
However, the State Police Public Relations officer, Mr Charlers Muka, told THISDAY in a telephone interview that "we haver just recived a signal that somebody has been kidnapped in Boji Boji Owa," but advised that THISDAY speaks with the Commissioner of police for more details.
The Divisional Police Officer in Charge of Owa Oyibu, Police Post , in Ika North East Local Government area, Mr Stephen I . Musa, also told THISDAY that his command had been informed of the kidnap and that his men have been sent out to comb the area for clues.
THISDAY was in the a middle of an interview with Muka, when he received signals that the police have recovered Okowa’s car along Agbor-Uromi road junction.
When THISDAY visited Okowa’s residence, politicians, Owa Royal Chiefs and friends were seeing milling around, discussing in low tones.
Those at the residence include, Chief Ben Obuh, PDP Chairman Delta North, Chief Ogada Omola, Chairman PDP Ika North-east, Dr E.O Efeizomor, Obi of Owa Kingdom and Chief I.I Erigbuim, among others.