…he was arrested by Ebubeagu, not abducted- security consultant
The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Ebonyi State chapter, on Sunday alleged that a gang of criminals intercepted and abducted the Publicity Secretary of the Party, Mr Chika Nwoba in Abakaliki.
State Chairman of the Party, Hon. Tochukwu Okorie, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in Abakaliki.
Okorie, said that the abduction took place along Enugu-Abakaliki expressway, while Nwoba was driving with the Deputy Chairman of the Party, Barr. Ifeanyi Nworie.
It was Nworie who alerted the Anti-kidnapping unit of Ebonyi State Command of the ugly incident according to the PDP Chairman, adding that the men of the Command swung into action and intercepted the alleged criminals (at Ahia-Ofu) and rescued the said victim.
He stated; “The abductors were intercepted by the anti-kidnapping team and rather than arrest the abductors who they meet on ground, they took Nwoba into custody and allowed the criminals to go scot-free.”
“The Publicity Secretary is not being allowed to see anybody at the Police Station. What is he being suspected of? Anybody not supporting this administration is an endangered species, including the PDP.
“Chika Nwoba published a photograph of a member of Ebubeagu carrying AK 47. Chika Nwoba has been in hiding until today.
“We call on the Attorney General of the Federation, National Security Adviser, IGP to take notice of what is happening in Ebonyi State. Nobody is safe unless you are a member of APC.”
He lamented that after Nwoba was rescued by the police, he was taken into to custody, noting; “The Police is keeping him in custody so that they can arraign him in a kangaroo court. The abductee’s phone is still with the abductors. He was beaten mercilessly by his abductors. Why would the Police release the abductors and arrest the victim.
Contacted, the Security Consultant for Ebubeagu and the State Chairman, All Progressive Congress, APC, Stanley Okoro Emegha, said that Nwoba was not abducted as claimed by PDP but was arrested by members of Ebubeagu security outfit.
He explained that Nwoba who had issues to answer as regards the propagation of fake news was arrested by Ebubeagu and handed over to the Police for further investigation.
He stated; “It is really unfortunate. I don’t like joining issues. The law provides that Ebubeagu can arrest and hand over to the Police. They have been seen do that on more than two occasions. This boy called Chika Nwoba has been on the list of those to come and answer for fake news.
“We all know that there’s a law on fake news in the State. Many others are facing similar charges in the State.
“Why would somebody say it is an abduction. Security operatives operate based on intel. And when the information got to them, they said they have seen him. There was an uprising in the location he was. Some say it was an abduction and not abduction.
“While a team of Ebubeagu was on patrol, they saw them. Chika Nwoba was there and he was picked. Knowing that he was a member of an opposition political party, Ebubeagu did their job professionally by arresting him and handing him over to the Police. The investigation on the matter continues.
“If there was no petition against him, he wouldn’t have been arrested but there was a petition already against him and that was why he was arrested.
“Ebubeagu handed him over to the Police. He was not taken to the Government House or any other place. The people they handed over to was a Police team on patrol and not that they (Ebubeagu) took him to the Police Station. The law will take its due cause.
“He will defend himself as to whether he is guilty or not. If there’s enough evidence against him on fake news, he will face the law. This incident happened less than 12 hours and people are already adding to the incident.”
On the allegation by the PDP that the State Government was operating a cell or torture Camp at the old Government House and Ebonyi Hotel, Abakaliki, the Security Consultant noted; “You people should work around the Government House and find out if that is true. Find out if there’s anywhere they are holding people. Ebonyi Hotel is where we have so many churches operating therein. How can you be holding people there? The only thing is that the opposition will always talk.”
He maintained that propagation of fake news and fake news itself was more dangerous than the activities of unknown gunmen operating within the South East region.
“Fake news and fake information are more dangerous than unknown gunmen because it is the information that you give to them (unknown gunmen) that spark them to do what they are doing. People should get themselves off fake news and information
“So, there was nothing like an abduction. He was duly arrested and handed over to the Police. It didn’t even take up to three minutes. Ebubeagu was professional in their conduct as they operated within the ambit of the law.”