Five Persons Kidnapped after Wedding Party in Akpo on Easter Monday

By Ikeugonna Eleke

At least five persons have been kidnapped by gunmen in Anambra State on Easter Monday.

It was gathered that the five persons who attended the traditional marriage ceremony of a cousin to the Commissioner for Special Duties, Barr Sly Ezeokenwa, were on their way back home when they were kidnapped at gunpoint.

An alert message by the commissioner, which was made available to Fides, stated that the victims were kidnapped around Akpo Community in Aguata LGA at about 10pm on Monday, and that no contact had been established with them or the kidnappers.

Ezeokenwa wrote: ‘The following friends of my cousin – Sampson Okafor, Chidozie Eze, Franklin Osuagu, Chijioke Uduba, Benedict Ozoagwu, who visited for his traditional marriage yesterday (Monday) were kidnapped at gunpoint at about 10pm in Udo Village, Akpo (Aguata LGA) along Akpo – Nkpologwu Road, about 300m to Akpo Junction. We are yet to establish any contact with the victims.’

When Fides reached out to the spokesperson of the State Police Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, he confirmed the development and said the Command had launched an operation to rescue the abducted persons and that the commissioner had also been contacted over the claims.

‘The command has already made contact with the Honourable Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Sly Ezeonkenwa, and an operation is currently ongoing for possible rescue of the victims,’ he said.