Two days after he was kidnapped close to his house in the Government Reservation Area (GRA) of Benin City, the abductors of Dr Tony Aziegbemi, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have yet to contact his family or political associates.
Dr Aziegbemi, it would be recalled, was waylaid by some gunmen at about 11 pm on Friday while returning from a political meeting held at the Government House and was forcefully taken to an unknown destination.
While the Edo Police Command, through its Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chidi Nwabuzor, said that it had swung into action to rescue the kidnapped PDP state chairman, nothing has been heard from his ABDUCTORS almost 48 hours after the incident.
A family source who spoke to journalists on Sunday said that “as of now, there has not been any contact, and I just spoke to my boss, who I know will also have needed information, and they have not been contacted. The family members are as worried as every one of us because they did not also go with his phone; it was with his driver.”
This was just as the Edo Police Command PPRO, Nwabuzor, said there was no development yet after the police deployed its tactical team to go into the matter.
The Edo State Government, in its first reaction to the incident, assured that it was on top of the matter in collaboration with all security agencies in the state to secure the release of the victim.
A statement endorsed by Chris Osa Nehikhare, Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, said that the state government was “working closely with security agencies to ensure his safe release and return to his family.”
“We have also increased surveillance and beefed-up security measures across the state to ensure that these criminal activities are quelled and culprits are brought to justice.
“We encourage residents to go about their lawful businesses without fear and urge them to call the state emergency numbers 112 or 739 to report all suspicious persons or activities within their environs.
“The government reassures that it is committed to protecting the lives and property of Edo residents and will spare no resources in ensuring that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.” The statement reassured
Also, the PDP governorship candidate in the September 22, 2024 governorship election in the state, Dr Asue Ighodalo, has condemned the abduction of the party’s chairman, describing it as “shocking.”
In a statement issued on Sunday, Ighodalo said: “The news of the kidnapping of the Edo State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, on Friday night was extremely shocking and distressing
“I strongly condemn this dastardly act, and my heart goes out to the Aziegbemi family at this very trying time. I join the family in offering fervent prayers for his safe return.
“I also urge the security agencies to continue to spare no effort in investigating the matter and working assiduously for our dear party chairman’s safe release.”
The Edo State chapter of the Labour Party (LP), on its part, described the kidnapping as worrisome.
The Edo LP, in a statement endorsed by its State Publicity Secretary, Sam Uroupa, blamed the incident on the collapse of security architecture in the state, despite the claim that security is top-notch in the state.
“In spite of the acclaimed security network and alleged empowerment of vigilante boys only used for thuggery and intimidation of voters during elections, lives and properties in the state are not safe.
That the state chairman of the ruling party in the state is kidnapped in such a manner is an attestation that Edo State is seriously lacking in the area of security, and the government that ought to protect the lives and properties of her citizens seems not doing enough to curtail criminal activities in the state.
“This kidnap is one kidnap too many in the state, which signposts an overt reminder and wake-up call on Governor Obaseki’s led administration in the state that all is not well in terms of securing the state, which is the primary responsibility of government.
“The Labour Party therefore reassures the good people of Edo State that if the party is voted into power, the issue of security in the state will be vehemently tackled, and kidnapping and other social vices will be things of the past.” The Edo LP assured.
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