joshua
By Correspondent in Okene
The lull witnessed by peace-loving and law abiding residents of Kogi State, for sometime, particularly those residing in the Central Senatorial District of the state, got punched on Monday as suspected kidnappers resumed duty in Okene, abducting the managing director of Azeco Pharmacy.
Investigation by our Correspondent in Okene revealed that suspected Kidnappers, numbering about 10 at about 3p.m, stormed the Pharmacy located at Ozuwaya quarters in the heart of Okene and abducted its Managing Director, simply known as Azeez to unknown destination, with ease and unchallenged.
Sources said that though the suspects besieged the area, killing one person who wanted to obstruct them, their vehicle suddenly broke down but undaunted as they abandoned it and took their victim on foot, in broad day light and shooting sporadically to scare helpless on lookers some of whom ran for cover.
Sources added that the suspects made Azeez to trek from Ozuwaya to Agassa junction,where they secured a Jeep at gun point, clamped in their victim into the vehicle and zoomed off to unknown destination.
The mother in law to the victim, who opted for veiling of identity in an interview with the media outfit in Okene on Wednesday, said though the family had been eager to hear from the suspects, “we have not heard any information from them since they took away my son in law.”
She begged the suspects to communicate with the family, with a view to tabling their demand for possible settlement, to ensure the release of Azeez.
Some members of the public who spoke with the Correspondent described Azeez as a compassionate human being who sell drugs to customers at much cheaper rate, thereby helping the sick to have access to drugs with relative ease.
They urged the suspects to release Azeez,at least on account of his good deeds to the sick and common man in Okene and its environs.
When contacted at about 8.20 a.m on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Police Command in the state, DSP William Aya, promised to contact the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for Okene Local Governnent Area and reach out to the media outfit.
At another call from us (8 45 a m), Aya said that all his efforts to get the DPO for his comment on the issue proved abortive but promised trying the officer and get back to us later as soon as he get the office speak on the issue.
Though Aya could not get back to us as at the time of this report at about 9.20 a.m, we shall keep our readers informed as events on the issue unfold.
