Kidnappers abduct another Delta monarch, HRM Aghaza I

GUNMEN shooting sporadically on Friday abducted the 96-year-old Odio-ologobo (traditional ruler) of Olomoro Kingdom in Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, HRM Josiah Umukoro Aghaza I, 24 days after Fulani herdsmen kidnapped and murdered the Obi of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom in Aniocha South Local Government Area of the state.

IGP-Solomon-Arase

Authoritative sources told Saturday Vanguard that the royal father was going to his palace at about 10.00 am after departing the residence of his wife when the armed men suspected to be kidnappers, numbering four, ambushed him, dragged him out of his car and took him hostage.
“There is tension in the whole town over the incident. The men, who came in a CRV Honda Jeep sped away with the monarch and commercial motorcyclists pursued them as far as Ughelli, but because they were driving a motor vehicle, they succeeded in escaping,” a villager said.
We ve mobilized our men – PPRO
Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Police Command, DSP Celestina Kalu, confirmed the abduction of the royal father when contacted by Saturday Vanguard.
She said: “We are aware; police are on top of the situation, we have mobilized our men in search of the suspects.”
Kidnappers abandon car – LG chair
Chair, Isoko South local government area, Mr. Malik Ikpokpo, told our reporter that the police, army were contacted and they had mounted search for the kidnappers, adding that the incident took place between 8.30 am to 10.00 am .
He said the local vigilance group in the area was also working, adding that the information at his disposal indicated that the kidnappers abandoned their getaway car at Agbarha Otor, near Ughelli, when they sensed that security operatives were hot on their heels.
Saturday Vanguard contacted the acting chair of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers, the Obi of Owa Kingdom, HRM Emmanuel Efeizemor on phone, but one of his aides, who picked the call, told our reporter that they would call him back in two hours time.
Olomoro turning into dangerous zone
Saturday Vanguard investigation showed that Olomoro is becoming another den for kidnappers. A former Commissioner in the defunct Bendel state and foremost educationist, Chief Idodo Umeh, was kidnapped inside the Baptist Church, Olomoro, on a Sunday, by a kidnap gang, which came shooting in a similar fashion, last month.
The octogenarian was, however, lucky as the the kidnapper, who bundled him in their car had accident twice. They abandoned him in the vehicle, snatched another Kia jeep with registration number LEH 339 SL and escaped.
While escaping with the Kia Jeep, the suspects had another accident and eventually abandoned the vehicle and fled into the bush.
Acting on a tip-off, a combined team of police on patrol and local vigilance group went after the hoodlums and rescued Umeh in the first vehicle.
Items recovered at the scene were a locally made single barrel gun and the two vehicles used by the hoodlums. Before the Idodo Umeh episode, a staff of the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, gunmen also kidnapped Mrs. Charity Ekere, took her to a hideout at Enwe, a neighboring community.
Acting on a tip off, security agents stormed the house to rescue her.
At the time of this report, the kidnappers were yet to contact the family of the monarch for ransom.
A youth leader in the community said, “This is scandalous, it is a taboo to kidnap a king, I do not know what is going to happen but I can tell you that anxiety is mounting, there could be unrestrained protests by the people.”
“We have reported to the security agents and chair of the local government council, we are waiting to see what they will do before we take our next line of action,” he added.




-Vanguard