Abductions: Igbo group petitions minister, AMAC chair, others

A socio-political organisation operating in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Igbo Community Association (ICA), has alerted the Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, that the peaceful environment enjoyed in the Abuja was being threatened by the menace of abduction and kidnapping, fast creeping into the city.
In a petition dated March 26, 2018, to the FCT Minister, signed by the group’s Secretary General and Public Relations Officer, Chief Okezie Madukwe, and Chief Sunday Mark, respectively, the ICA alleged that the AMAC vice-chairman had allegedly masterminded the abduction and kidnapping of its President and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon.
Leonard Ebo.
The petition called on the Minister to immediately mandate the Commissioner of Police to commence full-scale investigation into the matter to forestall re-occurrence.
In a copy of the petition made available to newsmen, the ICA informed the minister that the, hitherto “ambient political environment in AMAC” might be ruptured with the introduction of “political thuggery and kidnappings” allegedly by Onuchukwu and one Hon.
Chinedu Obika.
The petition further explained that on March 20, 2018, during an APC geo-political zone forum at the Blake Hotel and Resort in Garki, convened to endorse the AMAC chairman for a second term, thugs allegedly loyal to Hon.
Chinedu Obika and Hon.
Lawrence Onuchukwu, attacked the ICA president, Mr.
Leonard Ebo.
Part of the petition read: “The Honourable Minister Sir, the political environment in the FCT has always been peaceful and ambient till now.
AMAC and Abuja did not know any form of political thuggery till this ugly incident took place.
Kidnapping, abduction and assassination are alien to FCT environment.
“It, therefore, surprises us that Hon Chinedu Obika and Hon Lawrence Unachukwu inspire of his position as vice-chairman; AMAC will introduce such ugly trend in the political history of FCT.
“This unacceptable to us as we wish for a safer and more civilized society.
Hon Minister Sir, this constitutes a security threat as nobody knows how many people more that will fall victim to their wicked acts.
“We, therefore, ask you to mandate the commissioner of Police to carry out a full investigation into the matter so as to forestall a future occurrence.
” In a similar petition to the AMAC Chairman, Hon.
Adamu Candido, the ICA alleged that thugs, numbering 20, taking instructions from Chinedu Obike had beaten him to stupor and in the process of abducting him to an unknown destination, were faced with the sudden appearance of many people at the scene, which forced them to abandon him to his fate, while they took to their heels.
According to the petition which called for justice, the assailants had dispossessed their victim of two mobile phones, the sum of N178, 000, medicated eyeglasses, traditional cap and a wristwatch.
When contacted for comments, the AMAC vice-chairman, Hon.
Onuchukwu, denied having a hand in the attack, saying that when he learnt of Ebo’s ordeal, he had instructed his orderly to arrest the culprits which he (the Orderly) did.
He also noted that he learnt of another version which said the ICA president was attacked by irate youths who sighted him wielding the Biafran fl ag.
Blueprint, however, learnt that Ebo was allegedly beaten up for visiting the AMAC chairman to complain that the Igbo ethnic group which massively voted for the APC had not benefited anything from the Council.