The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of Eze Samuel Amaechi, the monarch of Igbo-Agwurasa kingdom in Etche local Government Area of the state on Thursday, April 23, 2015 night. Police have launched a manhunt for the kidnappers, who also killed his police orderly.
Eze Samuel Amaechi, who is a Rivers State government recognised First Class traditional ruler, is the Medical Director of Nobsams Clinic, Port Harcourt. He was kidnapped in the state capital by unknown gunmen at the Mile 4 Diobu area of Port Harcourt while returning home from the clinic at about 7.50pm.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state, Ahmad Muhammad, who confirmed the development to journalists said the anti-kidnapping unit of the command were on the trail of the kidnappers.
Muhammad said, “The manhunt for rescuing him safely is still on-going. Our men are on the lookout for where he is being kept and I can assure that we anticipate a breakthrough.”
A source close to the monarch’s family said he was a close distance to his house when four armed men blocked his chauffeur-driven car, shot and killed his police orderly before forcefully dragging him out of the car. They then fired into the air to scare away passers by.
In a related development, Mr Ojims Chikere, Secretary of the APC in Obio-Akpor local Area of the state was rescued from abductors who had kidnapped him very close to his residence in Rumuobiakani axis of the state.
“They had dragged me into their waiting car and was about to zoom off when one of them decided to make a phone call to confirm from their sponsor if I was the real target before the could waste me.”
“However it within the period of the call that youths within the community blocked them and rescued me.But before they could escape the Police that had been tipped off arrived and arrested them,” Chikere narrated.
He said that the preliminary investigation by the police revealed that the foiled abduction was actually an assassination bid and politically motivated to silence APC members who may have evidence at the election petition tribunal.
