In a distressing turn of events, the Anambra State Commissioner for Youths Development, Patrick Aghamba, and his wife were reportedly kidnapped while traveling to Abuja. The couple was on their way to attend the wedding of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s daughter, scheduled for Saturday, August 17th. According to sources, the incident occurred along the Kogi axis of the route, though there is some confusion about the exact location, with some reports also mentioning Ubiaja in Edo State as a possible site of the kidnapping.
Tragically, an aide accompanying the commissioner, identified as Kpajie ABK Offiah, was shot dead by the kidnappers during the incident. Offiah, a well-known youth leader in Onitsha and a staunch member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), had been traveling with the commissioner and his wife when the assailants struck.
The news of the kidnapping was confirmed by Christian Aburime, the Press Secretary to Governor Soludo, who stated that the government is still trying to pinpoint the exact location where the abduction took place. The confusion over the location only adds to the growing concern about the safety of travelers on Nigeria’s highways, particularly in the regions plagued by banditry and other forms of violent crime.
Patrick Aghamba was among the 20 commissioners appointed by Governor Soludo in 2022, and his abduction has sent shockwaves through the state. This incident comes on the heels of another high-profile kidnapping, highlighting the worsening security situation in the country.
Just hours before the commissioner’s abduction, police authorities in Benue State reported that about 20 medical students had been kidnapped. The students were reportedly traveling to Enugu State for a program when they were ambushed by bandits. According to the Public Relations Officer of the Benue State Police Command, Sewuese Anene, the students were passing through the Otukpo Local Government Area in Benue when they encountered the kidnappers.
The students, who were traveling in a convoy of two buses, were said to be coming from the northern part of the country. The attack occurred on Thursday evening at around 5:30 pm, leaving their families and the broader community in a state of panic.
These back-to-back incidents of kidnapping underscore the increasing dangers faced by Nigerians, particularly those traveling through certain parts of the country. The audacity of these criminal groups to target government officials, students, and other citizens alike has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the security measures currently in place.
As the authorities continue to search for the kidnapped commissioner, his wife, and the group of medical students, there is a growing outcry for the government to take more decisive action to address the insecurity that has plagued Nigeria for years. The recent surge in kidnappings and other violent crimes has not only caused widespread fear but has also disrupted the lives of countless Nigerians, making it clear that the current approach to tackling insecurity may need a significant overhaul.
In the meantime, the families of the victims are left in a state of uncertainty, anxiously waiting for any news about the safety and whereabouts of their loved ones. The situation remains tense as the government, security agencies, and local communities grapple with the implications of these latest abductions.
