By Chinonso Alozie

Owerri — Armed gunmen abducted a prominent Igbo youth leader, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, last Saturday evening in Owerri, Imo State.

The incident occurred at a hotel in the Works Layout area, shortly after an election of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) led by Igboayaka.

An eyewitness described the dramatic scene: “The gunmen, dressed in uniforms, drove into the hotel and dragged Igboayaka into their vehicle. They sped off to an unknown destination. A few hours later, they returned and towed his vehicle to an undisclosed location.”

The witness added, “This happened around 7:30 pm. We tried to identify the armed men but couldn’t because they appeared so intimidating. Since then, we have not heard from him, and the abductors have not contacted anyone. We are praying for his safety.”

The Igbo National Council (INC), led by Chilos Godsent, condemned the abduction in a statement:

“On Saturday, 8th February 2025, at about 7:00 pm, we received the sad news that gunmen, dressed in black and numbering up to seven, arrived in a Sienna and a Lexus SUV and forcefully abducted Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka in a Gestapo-style operation at Works Layout, Owerri.

“Since the incident, all attempts by the Ohanaeze Youth Council, family members, and friends to reach him have failed as his mobile lines were switched off immediately after the incident.”

Godsent urged the Imo State Police Command to swiftly investigate the abduction and reveal the identities of the perpetrators.

“We call on the Nigerian Police Force, Imo State Command, to immediately swing into action to identify the gunmen and make their findings public,” the statement read.

The INC further expressed concern over the confusion and distress caused by the incident, urging authorities to ensure the safe return of Igboayaka.

As of the time of filing this report, the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, had not responded to inquiries about the incident.