NUJ boss, 3 others kidnapped

Anayo Okoli & Olasunkanmi Akoni
UMUAHIA— FOUR executive committee members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, were, yesterday, abducted by kidnappers who attacked them at Umuafouka junction near Ukwakiri in Obingwa Local Government Council of Abia State.

Those kidnapped include, Chairman Lagos State Council of NUJ, Mr. Wahab Oba, Secretary of Zone D, Adolphus Okoronkwo, and two others whose identities could not be established as at press time.

They were returning from the council’s National Executive Council, NEC, meeting which took place at Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital when they were abducted along the Ikot Ekpene-Aba road.

Vanguard recalls that this area of Abia State is notorious for crimes, especially, kidnapping.

The kidnappers were said to have operated in a Volvo car and was believed to have targeted the bus carrying Lagos State NUJ officials. The bus carrying the Delta State contingent which was following behind was, however, lucky.

Sources said that immediately the Lagos contingent fell into the hands of the kidnappers, their counterparts from Delta, on noticing what was happening, disembarked from their bus and ran into the bush.

The Vice-president, Zone C, South east, Mr. Ambrose Nwachukwu and the Chairman of Abia State Council, Mr. Hycinth Okoli, confirmed the incident. Okoli, however, regretted the route taken by the NUJ officials which he said really exposed them to danger.
Oba’s whereabouts unknown–Lagos council

Following the reported kidnap of the Lagos Council Chairman, Mr. Wahaab Oba, weekend, officials of the council were yet to know the where-abouts of their leader. However, the matter has been reported to the Inspector General of Police, IGP.

According to Mr. Deji Elumoye, the Council’s  Vice Chairman who confirmed the development to Vanguard, said the council prayed that the kidnappers should spare the lives of the chairman.

Elumoye, who said the kidnappers had asked for a N250 million ransom for the chairman’s release were yet to communicate to any member of their family or the council members.

The vice chairman told Vanguard that the National Secretariat of NUJ in Abuja was assisting the state council in finding the where-abouts and eventual release of Oba.

To the effect, Elumoye said the National President of NUJ, Alhaji  Muhammed Garuba, in a swift reaction addressed the media in Abuja on the development with a view to rallying round for Oba’s release.

He said: “We are still working on the possibilities of finding him safe and sound. We are yet to get any further information on his where-abouts. But we hope and pray that he is found alive without any injury inflicted on him.

“We are also working in partnership with Nigeria Police authorities and the National executives in Abuja. We shall keep you informed as developments unfold.”

NBA condemns kidnap

Reacting to the kidnap of some Journalists in Abia State, yesterday, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, condemned the kidnap and called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo to take urgent step to ensure the immediate release of the journalists.

NBA in a statement by its National Assistant Publicity Secretary, Mr. Gbolahan Gbadamosi, in Lagos tasked the IG to put into action, the outcome of the security meeting Onovo had with South East governors on the grave security report in that region.

He added that the association’s call on the IG was not because “our strategic partners (journalist) were involved, but for the security of all citizens.”