APC flays abduction of council secretary in Rivers

Police silent on kidnap

All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has raised the alarm over the abduction of its Ikwerre Council Secretary, Osaruonu Amadi. Ikwerre is the home council of the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi.

The party expressed worries over the development that came barely 48 hours before the governorship and state House of Assembly elections in the state.
The Guardian learned that unidentified gunmen, dressed in police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) uniforms, on Wednesday night, reportedly picked Amadi at gunpoint and whisked him away to unknown destination.

Amadi was reportedly picked from his residence in Aluu in Ikwerre, few hours after he joined other APC chiefs to receive the leader of the party in the state, Chibuike Amaechi, for a ward-to-Ward campaign in the area.

It was also gathered that the same armed men had also invaded the Port Harcourt residence of another APC chief in the same council, Chibuike Ikenga, but could not pick him up because he was not at home.

The APC spokesperson in the state, Darlington Nwauju, expressed concern about the level of attacks on opposition parties in the APC in the state. He urged police to do everything possible to bring Amadi back to his family and the APC.
Nwauju recalled how reports of attacks on APC members have been sent to security agencies, especially the police, but regretted that no investigation or arrest had been made.

He alleged that police prefer to arrest and prosecute any member of the party reported on trump-up charges. He enjoined the Inspector-General of Police to act fast to redeem the integrity of the police force in the nation.

He said: “A few minutes ago, we got reports of the abduction of the Secretary of APC in Ikwerre Council, who also served as our Council collation agent during the National Assembly election.

“We are yet to ascertain the whereabouts of Amadi. We are also yet to ascertain the persons who abducted him. We want the public to take note, we want security agencies in Rivers State to assure us that no harm will come to our member. And security agencies must also ensure that he is immediately released to our party and his family.”

MEANWHILE, the Rivers State Police Command has remained silent over the kidnap. The Command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, promised to get back but was yet to do so at the time of filing this report.