By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN—Wife of Second Republic senator, Francis Okpozo, was abducted yesterday by gun men suspected to be kidnappers who are demanding N5 million as ransom before she can be freed.
Mrs. Anna Okpozo, a pastor with the Christ Embassy Church, Erediauwa branch Benin City, was abducted at her Ekenwa Road residence shortly after she had a prayer session with her family.
Her husband, Senator Okpozo, an outspoken politician, was said to have travelled at the time of the incident.
Her two sons with whom she prayed were said to be away from home when the kidnappers struck.
According to eye an witness, the four kidnappers had pulled up and parked their white Volkswagen Audi car to block the gate of the compound.
“Two of the kidnappers went inside the house, while the other two remained inside the car,” the eyewitness explained.
It was learnt that before her abductors took her away, they searched everywhere in the house and took along with them some valuables.
They later telephoned Senator Okpozo and demanded for a N5 million ransom for the wife to be freed.
The kidnap of Mrs. Okpozo is the second attack on the politician in less than a month, as only last month, unknown gunmen had broken into his country home at Ozoro in Isoko North local government area of Delta State at night and shot one of his nephews severally on his legs.
The senator was also not at home during that attack.
Thank God that She is free now
This has become a commercial business in nigeria mostly in the niger delta area. The root of this lucrative business is corruption in our nigerian politics and the insecurity of the nation.
Our obviously ailing police men know who these knuckle kidnappers are and where they live but apparently lack the will to go after them. It is a shame that Nigeria has virtually been turned into a haven of kidnappers when other nations are focusing on putting in place solid platforms that will take them to the next level. Cry our beloved country. I have alwaus said and will continue to say it – we will need to recolonized by our former colonial masters for Nigeria to be able to make the required strides. We attained our indepedence too early and we are where we are because we do not have “white” nigerians. A lot of Nigerians would prefer to have a colonized Nigeria, where people have jobs and things work rather a free country with one of the highest levels of undeserved poverty and corruption in the world.
These people have bitten more than they could chew. Honestly, they have taken the wrong person. Here’s the reason why:
“Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth…to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.” Proverbs 6:27-29)
Everyone will hear of what happens to these boys and their sponsors!
This wave of kidnappings including father of ex Central Bank Governor, Soludo. Whatever happened to the death penalty?? Can’t Nigeria restore/reinstate the death penalty if it was ever abolished, as the only way to stem these dastadly acts and amend the law to reward them eye for eye like China and other countries still holding on to the dealth penalty do.
May God protect this woman…The government should ensure the Onitsha head bridge is closely monitored because most of these kidnappers are known wanderers. God will see Adams Oshiomhole and Edo State through the antics of these commercial people.