Anambra billionaire ‘kidnapped’ over Abba -Ukpo crisis
There is tension in Abba Community, in Njikoka local government area of Anambra State, following the kidnap of a billionaire businessman, Chief Pius Nweke by unknown persons on Friday.
The kidnap of the business mogul is a new twist to the protracted communal clash between Ukpo in Dunukofia local government area and Abba.
Ukpo is the community of the oil magnate, Prince Arthur Eze while Abba is where international novelist, Chimamanda Adichie hails from.
Nweke owns Best Aluminium Manufacturing Company scattered everywhere within and beyond the state.
Over a week ago, his property in Abba was destroyed by unknown persons.
In a statement Friday, the President General of the Community, Engr, B C Anaekwe, said, he was abducted on his way to office by some people suspected to be Policemen around 12 noon.
He alleged the business mogul was handcuffed like a common criminal while a gun was placed on his hand.
“As at the time of this release, the whereabouts of Chief Nweke is still unknown. It is recalled the Abba community has been in dispute over ownership of a large expanse of land commonly called “Agu-Abba” with her neighbouring Ukpo community for which the Nigerian police was enlisted against the Abba community.
” Since June, 2019 citizens of the Abba community have been subjected to police intimidation, harassment and victimisation with not less than 19 citizens of the Abba community charged to courts for offences ranging from obstruction to armed robbery.
“At present, two out of the five persons arrested on 18th December, 2019 in the Magistrate Court, Umudioka are still in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
“The Abba community hereby places the world on notice that should anything happen to Chief Pius Nweke, the Nigerian police under IGP Mohammed Adamu and Prince Arthur Eze are to be held responsible.
“The Nigerian police should not reduce itself to a private thug. President MohammaduBuhari is called upon to save Abba community from the Nigerian police,” the community said
When contacted, the Anambra Commissioner of Police, John Abang and the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Haruna, did not pick their calls
But, one of the senior Police Officers in the State, who pleaded anonymity, said nobody kidnapped chief.
Rather, he said he was arrested for illegal possession of fire arms
He said Nweke was in possession of a pistol gun without license which, according to him, was a criminal offence with a jail term of not less than three years
