Guardian

A MAN, Mr. Uche Ughanze, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Abubakar, appealing for help to secure the release of his 80-year-old mother, Mrs. Roselyn Ughanze, kidnapped three months ago by unknown gunmen at Alor, Idenmili council area of Anambra State.

In the petition dated September 10, 2012 and made available to newsmen on Monday, Ughanze also alleged that his life is under threat as he has been hiding since the kidnap of his mother, following attempts by the same group to kidnap him too.

According to him, the first incident happened just six months when unknown gunmen attempted to abduct his mother, but she narrowly escaped from them, because on sensing their mission, she locked herself inside her room, refusing to yield to commands to open the door.

He said that her mother was however unlucky as she was kidnapped by unknown gunmen from her country home in Alor, Idenmili South LGA on June 24, while her red Honda CRV was also stolen by the kidnappers.

He believes that police in Awka have information that may lead to a breakthrough in discovering the true identity of his mother’s abductors, but expressed surprised that at the peak of the police investigation, they dumped the matter.

“What is worse is that since three months now, I have been forced into hiding by these people because they want me to come out so that they will kill me. I plead with the IGP to come to our aid.  My mother is still being held by her captors,” Ughanze said.

He urged the IG to wade into the matter, stressing that he no longer has confidence in the both the Alor Police division where the matter was first lodged, and the Anambra State Police Command.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Police Command, DSP Ralph Uzoigwe, said he is not aware of the matter.

“It is not enough to blame the police. He should find out which division is handling the matter. Is it the state CID, anti-terrorist squad etc?” Uzoigwe said, adding that the Ughanze ought to inform his office.