By Enyim Enyim

ONITSHA—Four years after the kidnap of an octogenarian, Lady Roseline Ughanze from her son’s house in Alor, Idemili South Local Government of Anambra State, her family yesterday urged the police and other security agencies to quickly conclude investigation into the matter

The Ughanze family while addressing journalists in Awka through their lawyer, Mr Odinaka Obiorah, said the conclusion of the investigation will help bring to book the perpetrators of the crime and also set the family’s mind at rest as to whether their matriach is still alive or dead.

Obiorah said the family still has a strong belief that Mrs Ughanze who was 80 at the time of her kidnap four years ago  was still alive, adding that a thorough investigation will also reveal if  she has died.

“We call on the police and other security agencies to rise up to their duty as we are not in doubt as to those who kidnapped our mother. Justice should take its course no matter who is involved or how powerful,“  he said.

The family  said the phone number used in demanding ransome from her family by the abductors was surrendered to the police to ease their investigation but was  surprised that the police after tracing and arresting the owners of the cell phones,  released them.

Obiorah said, “It is the position of the family that they do not know if their mother has been killed or if she is still alive but they know that petitions and other similar letters being circulated by the detractors have killed the search for Lady Roselyn Ughanze.

“The authors of said petition and letters are putting up smiling cheeks to Lady Roselyn Ughanze’s discomfort and her family’s predicament over same.

“I announce the family’s plea to those who have access to Lady Roselyn Ughanze, their beloved mother, to let her know if she has not been killed that the detractors killed all the family’s efforts to locate her. She should be told also that the family, though down now, have not given up in their search for their mother.”

Obiorah however expressed confidence in the police and their ability to find Ughanze and also track down her abductors, calling on them to continue and conclude investigation in the matter.

“The family is also appealing to the general public who may have any useful information on the circumstance of Lady Roselyn Ughanze’s abduction or her whereabouts or whereabouts of her remains to contact the police or the family’s solicitors.”

It would be recalled that Lady Ughanze was kidnapped by unknown persons in the early hours of June 23, 2012 as she prepared to leave for morning mass  and efforts to rescue her had led her abductors to dump any  further contact with the family for ransom.

Before her  kidnap, our correspondent gathered that a previous attempt had been made on her but she was lucky to escape.

Attempts to speak with the Anambra State Police Command’s Spokesman, DSP Ali Okechukwu for his reactions on the matter was not successful as at press time.