By Chimaobi Nwaiwu, NNEWI

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

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Traffic Light Junction  is a  stone’s throw from Innoson Motorcycle Showroom, off Onitsha Okigwe Expressway, and the 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  might not be unconnected with the threat by  gunmen that they  would  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.

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

However, the Police in Anambra State dismissed some  activities of the gunmen in and around the industrial town, including the shooting between the Police and a local vigilante that happened at Nnobi junction a few days before the Senator’s burial, as having nothing to do  with the late Senators burial, assuring the residents that they are on hand to protect lives and property 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 vehicle and ordered them to alight  and enter one  of their vehicles.

According to a Vanguard source, as the victims alighted  from the  vehicle  conveying them to their destination,the  gunmen  ordered them at gunpoint  to enter their 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  withthe 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 out in less than five minutes created panic on the road  and around the  vicinity, and made  some  shop owners  around the area 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  yesterday, 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 6:45 pm three people were abducted near  Innoson 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’s Emergency  number 112 or call 07039194332 for a prompt response. Further details shall be  communicated.”