Family accuses military of abduction of community leader in Abia

Family members of Obinna Obi, President General of Umuaku Isuochi in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State, have sent a Save-our-Soul (SOS) plea to the military high command over the alleged “abduction” of their son by a military team led by a certain Major to an unknown destination.

His younger brother, who sent the SOS to the military authorities, narrated how Obi was whisked away in commando style without any explanation from the military team.

According to the complainant, who pleaded anonymity for security reasons, “My brother’s name is Mr Obinna Obi, he’s an architect and the President General of our town’s development union.

“He was kidnapped by the army, tied to their truck, and driven away yesterday around 4 pm.

“Nobody knows where they have taken him; nobody knows his whereabouts up till now.

“His wife and children are in severe panic and can’t sleep anymore. My aged mum in the village is equally in shock and panic over the sudden action of the military.

“The village is Umuaku Isuochi, in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.

“The little information I got is that this raid was carried out by an army major who is in charge of a military post at Lomara junction, along Isuochi.

“He was picked up in Umuaku Market Square in front of his friend’s supermarket in broad daylight. He actually travelled to the village this weekend because he doesn’t stay in the village.

“He went for his normal routine visits and meetings as the President General. A lot of his friends were there, but they couldn’t do anything because the army personnel were shooting sporadically.”

When contacted regarding this development, Director of Army Public Relations Major General Onyema Nwachukwu stated that “the available information at our disposal was that Frank Obinna was arrested by the troops during a raid operation in conjunction with other security agencies and vigilantes at Umuakwu in Umunneochi LGA of Abia State.

According to him, ‘he is allegedly linked to the coordination of IPOB/ESN nefarious activities and camps in the Umunneochi general area and is presently in custody for further investigations’.

ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE 

• Why Nigeria’s total debt rose by N24trn — DMO

• How to address exodus of IOCs from Nigeria — Peter Obi

• Multinationals exit costs Nigeria N95trn in five years — Peter Obi

• The killing of Citizen Joe Phillip

• Emirship Tussle: Police deploy armed security personnel to Sanusi, Bayero’s palaces