The family of Uchenna Eke, who was abducted by gunmen three weeks ago from his residence in Igbo-Etche, in the Etche Local Government Area in Rivers State, have called for his unconditional release.
Uchenna was reportedly kidnapped by a group of men dressed in police and army uniforms on Friday, December 2, 2022.
Speaking to reporters in Port Harcourt, a lawyer and cousin of the victim, Chidi Eke, called on the state government to intervene in the matter.
Chidi said the victim’s wife, who witnessed the gunmen break into her home, had been distraught since the incident occurred.
He noted that the family was concerned that Uchenna had spent more than three weeks with her captors without anyone approaching the family.
The lawyer said: “According to his wife, who was an eyewitness, at around 1am, a group of young men dressed in army uniforms and the police arrived, lighting their rooms with torches through the window.
“Then, he (Uchenna) asked who they were. The answer he got was that they were security men.
“Then he told me: ‘Why are you knocking on my door? I don’t know you.’ They then broke down his door and forced him into a Sienna that was already parked in his compound.
“They put him inside the waiting vehicle. To this day, there is no news of him. His mobile phone does not connect. They (kidnappers) have not asked for a ransom and have not said anything.”
Chidi said the matter was reported to the Umuebulem Police Station in Etche LGA.
Efforts to contact state police command spokeswoman Grace Iringe-Koko for a reaction were unsuccessful.
