By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

NNEWI – GUNMEN said to be numbering over six, driving in two Tayota Sienna vehicles on Tuesday, at about 5pm, abducted three returning home after the day’s business, around Traffic Light Junction Umudim Nnewi.

Traffic Light Junction is a stone throw to Innoson Motorcycle Showroom, off Onitsha Okigwe Expressway, and road leading to Innoson Motor Factory Umudim Nnewi, North Local Government Area, Anambra State.

The abduction of the three people, two men and a woman, according to an eye witness may not be unconnected with the threat by the unknown gunmen that they will make Nnewi look like Orsumoghu in Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State, and Orsu Ihiteokwa in Orsu Local Government Area in Imo State, where they have made no-go areas in both States, if Senator Ifeanyi Ubah is buried in Nnewi without their approval.

Vanguard source said that few days before the burial of the late Senator, gunmen had threatened Nnewi community that if they burry the late Senator without their approval, that they will make Nnewi unsafe for the residents and people who do business there.

However, the Police in Anambra State dismissed some activities of gunmen in and around the industrial town, including the shooting between the Police and local vigilante that happed at Nnobi junction few day before the Senators burial, as having nothing to do with the late Senators burial, assuring the residents that they are on hand to protect lives and properties of the people.

Vanguard gathered that the victims of the abduction were in a vehicle when the hoodlums who were armed with sophisticated weapons suddenly double-crossed them with their own vehicle, and ordered them to alight and enter into one of their own vehicles.

According to Vanguard source, as the victims alighted from the vehicle conveying them to their destination, the gunmen ordered them at gunpoint to enter into their own vehicle and the two men obeyed, the lady who was jittery and confused was forced into the same vehicle the men entered and they immediately zoomed off the three victims.

The eye witness disclosed that one of the gunmen entered into the vehicle in which the victims were driving home, and drove behind the hoodlums vehicle carrying the victims while the second hoodlums vehicle followed behind.

The operation which according to the eye witness was swiftly carried in less than five minutes created panic on the road and around the vicinity, and made some shop owners around the area to hurriedly close for the day’s business even before their normal closing time.

The Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident on Wednesday, said the Police are already working with information obtained from the scene for the ongoing rescue operations.

According to Ikenga, “Anambra State Joint Security Forces, are on the offensive for possible unhurt rescue of three victims and arrest of the abductors.

Ikenga’s statement read, “Today November 26-11-2024 by 6:45pm three people were abducted near IInnoson Motorcycle Showroom along Owerri Road, Nnewi.

“The police command is determined and is already working with information obtained from the scene for the ongoing rescue operations.

“The Command also urged residents or anyone with useful information that will aid the investigation to come forward to the Command Headquarters, Awka, or the nearest Police station.

“You are also encouraged to call the Command Emergency number 112 or call 07039194332 for a prompt response. Further details shall be communicated, Please.” It read