Bank manager kidnapped in Anambra
Vincent Ujumadu – Vanguard Newspaper, Nigeria
Thursday, 15 January 2009
AWKA—THE spate of kidnapping in Anambra State appears to be on the increase, as the manager of Oba Microfinance Bank in Idemili South local government area of the state, Mr. Maduakonam Onugha has become the latest victim.
Maduakonam was kidnapped on Tuesday night while having dinner with members of his family at Oba. Vanguard gathered that a five-man gang of kidnappers went to his house in two vehicles and while three positioned themselves in strategic positions, two went into the house, where the family was eating and took the man away. His whereabout is not known yet.
His relations said yesterday, that they had not been able to communicate with Onugha since the incident, adding that his telephone lines had also gone off.
According to them, the kidnappers have also not made any demand, adding that the matter had been reported to the police.
Police public relations officer in the state, Mr. Fidelis Agbo confirmed the incident and said that the Police had begun investigation into the matter.
Also on Sunday, a two-month old baby was abducted in a church in Onitsha during a service by some hoodlums and has not been found.
Worried by the situation in the state, a group which calls itself the Coalition for Good Governance and Fair Politics in Anambra State (COGGAFPAS) said it had planned a stakeholders’ meeting to discuss the issue because things were getting out of hand. No date has been fixed for the meeting, although the organisers said that arrangements were on for the hosting of the meeting.
Addressing newsmen in Awka yesterday, president of the group, Mr. Innocent Obi called on security operatives in the state to step up efforts to dislodge the kidnappers, because the state was becoming more insecure with each passing day.