By Steve Oko

Family of the former Chief Medical Director,  CMD,  of Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Professor Uwadinachi Iweha, abducted last year has appealed to his abductors to free him.

The septuagenarian was abducted on June 5, 2022 in front of his country home at Umuokpara, Umuahia, the state capital by yet-to-be-identified gun men.

Addressing newsmen yesterday in Umuahia, first son of the victim, Chukwudi Iweha, an Engineer, said they were yet to hear both from their father and his abductors.

“We are still looking for our father and pleading with whoever planned his abduction or his abductors to please release him to us.

“As a family, we cannot discern the motive behind this evil act or even point any accusing fingers at anybody; we have our trust in God that he will return and be reunited with us in good health”, he said.

The family expressed surprise that security agencies have not been able to come up with any clue about the whereabouts of their father.

“The security forces have been working with us with some results, but 52 weeks have passed, and they

have still not been able to produce the real culprits behind this devilish act or return our father to us.”

The family noted that despite efforts including protests by some concerned groups, the whereabouts of Professor Iweha remained unknown.

“There have been several protests by the Nigerian Medical Association, Abia State Chapter, who even went on a three-day strike in June 2022 due to the lack of government response.

“The Umuopara Clan Women also staged two protests over his abduction in August 2022.The Community elder, HRH

Godfrey Ibeakanma (Eze Ukwu I of Ezeleke), relations, and friends did their best to assist the family in pressuring the security agencies.”

The family said their father did not deserve the misery he had been subjected to.

“He returned to Abia state to serve his

community and contribute his quota to its development and was repaid with this wicked act”, they agonised.

The family appealed to the newly-elected Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti “to assist us in tasking the security agencies to bring this matter to a positive conclusion.”

They also appealed to the media to help create further awareness “of our painful and traumatizing situation, with

the hope that anyone with information will come forward, and it will lead to the rescue or release of our father.”

“They can contact the police or the following numbers 08035514107, 08036707100.”

Professor Iweha was also the CMD

of Abia Specialist Hospital, Amachara.

Until his abduction, he was the Provost College of Medicine, Amachara, Umuahia.