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The abductors of the traditional ruler of Obom-Agbogugu in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State have contacted the royal family and demanded N50m ransom.
The Enugu State Police Command on Monday confirmed the abduction of the traditional ruler, Igwe Sunday Orji, and his wife, by gunmen.
Igwe Orji was kidnapped with his wife around Ogbaku before Agbogugu Junction along the Enugu-Port-Harcourt Expressway while they were returning from a thanksgiving mass.
The mass was organised by the Bishop of Awgu Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Ifeanyi Okoye, for his mother, Ezinne Ekedimma Okoye, at the St. John’s Pro Cathedral Church, Owelli Awgu, on Sunday around 5pm.
Community sources told The Punch that the gunmen came out of the bush, shot continuously into the air, forced the monarch to a stop before whisking him away with his wife.
One of the sources said the kidnappers had already contacted the monarch’s family and demanded N50m ransom.
The kidnapping of the Igwe is coming barely three days after a Catholic priest, Reverend Father Paul Offu, was murdered by assailants along the Ihe-Agbudu Road.
But confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, described the kidnapping of the monarch and wife as unfortunate.
Amaraizu, a Superintendent of Police, told The Punch that the police swung into action to rescue the traditional ruler immediately the command got information about his kidnap.
According to him, a team of policemen was already in the bush trailing the Igwe’s abductors, adding that they would soon be arrested.
“I can assure you that our men are on top of the situation and the Igwe and his wife will soon be rescued unhurt,” he said.
