The Edo State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Tony Aziegbemi, was kidnapped on Friday night by a gang of armed men a few metres from his Odaro Street, Government Reservation Area (GRA) residence in Benin City, the Edo state capital.
Spokesman for the Edo State Police Command, Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident with the assurance that efforts to rescue the politician had been put in place.
Aziegbemi’s kidnapping came barely a month after the party conducted its governorship primary, which produced Asue Ighodalo, an ally of the incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki, as the candidate of the party in the forthcoming September 22, 2024, governorship election.
It was gathered that the kidnapped Edo State PDP Chairman was trailed by his abductors, who were in two Toyota Corolla cars.
The two cars were said to have overtaken Aziegbemi’s Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) at a speed breaker point along Odaro Street, off Country Home Road, close to his house, at about 11 pm Friday night.
Aziegbemi, who was without any police escort at the time of his kidnapping, it was further gathered, was returning from a night meeting held at the Government House.
His driver, while narrating how the PDP Chairman was kidnapped, said, “When we left Government House heading home at about 11 pm, I noticed a car trailing us, so I decided to take another diversion. We never knew they were kidnappers.
“A few minutes later, the same cars appeared behind us at a speed breaker point and blocked our car in the front, and immediately the gunmen pointed a gun at us and ordered our chairman to enter their car and take him away.”
The gunmen were said to have abandoned Aziegbemi’s car along Sapele Road and taken him away in their own cars.
At the time of filing this report, some top government officials and security agencies were sighted at the spot where Aziegbemi was kidnapped.
The Edo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chidi Nwabuzor, when contacted, confirmed the incident.
He added that the New Etete Police Division is in charge of the area.
“That is confirmed. It is in the jurisdiction of the New Etete Police Division, also known as Godwin Abbe Police Station, that it happened.
“The Commissioner of Police has given marching orders to the tactical teams of the operatives to go after the hoodlums, and we pray that, by the grace of God, all hands are on deck and we will be able to rescue him unhurt.”. The PPRO prayed.
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