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• Nab Okpara varsity student over unlawful possession of firearms
From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Police in Abia have confirmed the abduction of a former national president of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Obasi Lawson by gunmen.
Lawson’s driver and another person were said to have been killed by the gunmen before speeding off with their victim.
This is even as the command said that it had arrested Chidozie Humble, a 21-year-old, 300-level student of the Department of Animal Breeding and Physiology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), over illegal possession of firearms.
A statement by Abia State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Maureen Chinaka, said on March 4, at about 21:30 hrs, police received a report from one Sergeant Judge Gubi that ASP Tanko Natip, Inspector Ernest and himself from Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 6, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, who were attached as escorts to Chief Obasi Lawson, traveled to Arochukwu.
The statement said while returning to Port Harcourt through Azumini, Ndoki, Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State, on getting to Mkap Jekere, Ndoki around 19:00 hours, an unknown dark blue Sienna vehicle carrying unidentified gunmen double-crossed them and opened fire.
Chinaka said while the officers were repelling the attack, another set of gunmen forcefully took Chief Lawson, ordered him into their vehicle and zoomed off to an unknown destination leaving his driver and one other dead.
The PPRO said the state Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, had visited the scene, while tactical teams had been drafted to comb the area with a view to rescuing the victim unhurt.
The command also said in a release that on March 5, at about 10:50 hrs, detectives from the Serious Crime Investigation Squad (SCISSORS), Abia State Command, leveraging credible intelligence, apprehended Chidozie Humble in his room at Royal Heritage Lodge, Umudike, Ikwuano LGA.
The release said during the operation, officers recovered three (3) locally-made pistols and one (1) English Czech Scorpion pistol.
While saying the suspect was undergoing interrogation with a view to apprehending his accomplices, the release stated the Command was committed to ensuring the reduction of crime and criminality in the state.
