Gunmen kidnapped a Lagos-based businessman in Umuoma Nekede community in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.
Three armed men confronted the victim, Umunna Onyeokwu, who was inside his car parked close to the compound in Umuikea, Umuoma. They then took him away.
According to a report by Daily Post, an indigenous member of the community on Tuesday noted that the abduction had caused confusion in the neighborhood.
Given that the man had just returned from Lagos, he claimed that the incident, which occurred on Sunday evening at around 7 o’clock, is currently spreading panic in the neighborhood.
According to a community source who asked to remain anonymous, the victim was returning from the Central Primary School, where he had gone to play football, and was unaware that some men were following him.
“So when he parked his car near his house and was trying to come out of the car, the men moved swiftly towards him and pointed gun at him ordering him to get back to his car. Immediately they forced him into their car and drove off,” he said.
When newsmen visited Onyeokwu’s compound on Tuesday, the family members were too traumatized to talk.
It was gathered that the kidnappers have not contacted the family.
According to a source close to the family, “we have not made contact with the abductors. We are pleading for his release.
“We are dumbfounded because such a thing has not happened in our community before. We have not heard or seen abductors coming into a compound to kidnap people before.”
However, when contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Michael Abattam highlighted that the Divisional Police Command is yet to brief them in respect of the ugly incident and promised to brief the press with further details.