Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-City
The Edo State Police Command yesterday commenced rescue operations following the kidnap of the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Tony Aziegbemi.
This is as the national leadership of the party demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Aziegbemi.
Aziegbemi was kidnapped on Friday at a spot close to his residence at the Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Benin City, the state capital.
His abduction happened less than a month after the party’s primary election was held ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the state.
A source said the abductors, operating in two Toyota Corolla cars, double-crossed the PDP chairman’s jeep at a speed bump in the area and abducted him.
Aziegbemi was said to be returning from a meeting with Governor Godwin Obaseki when the incident took place.
Narrating the ordeal, the driver to Aziegbemi said: “When we left Government House and headed home at about 11p.m, I noticed the cars trailing us; so, I decided to take a diversion. We never knew they were kidnappers.
“A few minutes later, the same cars appeared behind us at a speed breaker and blocked our car in the front.”
He added that other gang members took over the chairman’s jeep and abandoned it on Sapele Road.
After confirming the incident in a statement, the Edo State Government said it was working closely with security operatives to ensure the victim regains freedom.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Chidi Nwabuzor, called on Edo residents to avail the police of useful information that would lead to the timely rescue of the PDP chairman.
He said the state Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, received the report of the incident with shock.
“The Commissioner of Police Edo State Command, Funsho Adegboye, who received the report of the incident with a shock, immediately gave a marching order to the tactical team leaders to conduct a rescue party, in collaboration with the vigilante’s group and the hunters to rescue him unhurt,” the statement read.
“He, however, solicited the cooperation of the law-abiding citizens of Edo State and urged them to give information to the police that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators and the rescue of the victim unhurt,” the statement explained.
Meanwhile, the national leadership of the PDP has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Aziegbemi.
The PDP on a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, expressed serious concerns over Aziegbemi’s abduction which it said, further points to the alarming failure of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled federal government in its primary duty to ensure the security and welfare of Nigerians as provided under Section 14 (2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
According to the PDP spokesman, “Our party is distressed by the alarming spate of abduction of helpless Nigerians in various parts of the country, particularly the recent kidnap of about 286 school children in Kaduna State and others in Sokoto State, who are still being held in horrifying and traumatising conditions in their abductor’s den.
“It is heartrending that the APC administration continues to give false assurances while Nigerians are left at the mercies of kidnappers, bandits, terrorists and marauders without corresponding concrete effort to check the ugly occurrences.”
The party called on the federal government to end its laidback attitude to security by immediately rejigging the national security architecture, especially in the areas of intelligence gathering, security command and control coordination in a manner that not only proactively ensure the safety of citizens, but also guarantees rapid respond and effective rescue operations.
It commended the gallant security personnel in their patriotic effort to secure the nation and urges them not to relent despite the daunting challenges.
The party also commended the efforts of Governor Obaseki particularly in the deployment of effective security frameworks and structures which the security agencies should leverage on to further guarantee the safety of citizens in Edo State and other parts of the country.
While calling on Nigerians to be prayerful, alert and continue to support the security agencies, the party charged the security high command to take urgent steps to secure the release of Aziegbemi and all other Nigerians trapped in abductors’ camps in various parts of the country.
