• CP talks tough, rallies vigilance groups, hunters
• PDP demands immediate release

Ahead of the April 24 date set for the commencement of Edo State governorship election campaigns, the state’s Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, has been kidnapped.

The election is scheduled for September 21.

Aziegbemi, a political ally of Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, was abducted by gunmen on Osaro Street in the Government Reservation Area (GRA) of Benin, the state capital, at about 11 pm on Friday.

He was said to have been abducted at a section of Osaro Street where there were speed breakers

The Edo PDP chairman had earlier on Friday evening attended a meeting at the Government House in GRA.

His driver, Joseph Impete, who narrated the events that culminated in the incident, said: “When we left Government House, Benin around 11 pm on Friday, and headed for the private residence of my boss, I observed that two cars were trailing us, so I decided to divert.

“We never knew that they were kidnappers.

“Some minutes later, the same cars appeared behind us at a section where there are speed-breakers, and their vehicles were suddenly used to block the SUV of my boss in the front.

“The men then pointed guns at us, ordered him to enter one of their cars and drove away.

“The gunmen abandoned my boss’ car on Sapele Road, Benin.”

The whereabouts of the Edo State PDP chairman remained unknown at press time while no demand for ransom had been made by his abductors.

CP talks tough, rallies vigilance groups, hunters

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Edo State Police Command, Chidi Nwabuzor, a Superintendent of Police (SP), confirmed the incident, saying that Edo State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, had given a marching order to the tactical teams of the command to rescue Aziegbemi unhurt while his abductors should also be apprehended and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to other criminals.

In a press statement he issued yesterday, Nwabuzor quoted Adegboye as having directed the command’s tactical team leaders to conduct a rescue party for Aziegbemi in collaboration with the vigilance groups and hunters in the state.

Adegboye said: “The command wishes to inform the general public that it is aware of the kidnap of Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, the state’s Chairman of PDP on Friday, 15/03/2024, at about 2345hrs. The information of his kidnap was received from his driver, Joseph Impete, who reported the incident at the New Etete Division, Benin City.

“The driver, who is an eyewitness to the horrible incident, reported that on 15/03/2024, the victim of kidnap, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, attended a meeting at the Edo State Government House, Benin City, and on their way returning home from the meeting, close to his house, six armed men in a convoy of two white Toyota Corolla saloon car, registration number unknown, accosted them along Bishop (Dr.) J.O.E. Edokpolor Boulevard Junction, off Country Home Road, GRA, Benin City, and immediately, Dr. Aziegbemi jumped out of his ash Toyota Prado Jeep for the safety of his dear life while the driver also ran out of the vehicle and lay on the ground, but the hoodlums chased Dr. Aziegbemi and threatened to shoot him if he refused to stop.

“So, he stopped, and they seized him, threw him inside his Toyota Prado Jeep, and took him away to an unknown destination.”

Adegboye also said he received the report of the kidnap incident with shock, prompting him to immediately issue a marching order.

He solicited the cooperation of law-abiding citizens of the state, urging them to give useful and timely information that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of Aziegbemi’s kidnap as well as his quick rescue.

PDP demands Aziegbemi’s release

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday urged government to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Aziegbemi.

In a press statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Debo Ologunagba, the party also demanded the release of all other abducted citizens, blaming the nation’s security challenges on the ruling All Progressives’ Congress (APC).

The statement reads in part: “The PDP expresses serious concerns over Dr. Aziegbemi’s abduction, which 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 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

“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 abductors’ 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.

“Our Party calls on the Federal Government to end its laidback attitude to security by immediately rejigging our 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 response and effective rescue operations.

“The PDP commends our gallant security personnel in their patriotic effort to secure our nation and urges them not to relent despite the daunting challenges.

“While calling on Nigerians to be prayerful, alert and continue to support our security agencies, the PDP charges the Security high command to take urgent steps to secure the release of Dr. Aziegbemi and all other Nigerians trapped in abductors’ camps in various parts of the country.”

Edo govt on top of incident, says commissioner

Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, stated yesterday that the Godwin Obaseki administration was on top of the “unfortunate” kidnap of Edo State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Tony Aziegbemi.

He said the government was working closely with security agencies to ensure his safe release and quick return to his family.

In an online statement, Nehikhare revealed that the state government had increased surveillance and beefed up security measures across the state in order to ensure that criminal activities were reduced to the barest minimum and the culprits were brought to book.

He said: “We encourage Edo State’s residents to go about their lawful businesses without fear, and urge them to call the state’s emergency numbers: 112 or 739, to report all suspicious persons or activities in their environs.

“Edo State Government reassures that it is committed to protecting the lives and property of Edo residents, and will spare no resources in ensuring that the perpetrators of the dastardly act are apprehended, and made to face the full wrath of the law.”

[TheNation]