Abduction: CP Urges Expatriates To Travel With Security

Commissioner of Police, Abia State , Mr. Jonathan Johnson, has appealed to expatriates coming to the state to always apply and obtain Police security. 

Johnson made the appeal against the backdrop of the kidnapping of two Germans in the state last Sunday, an incident he said that the State Police Command was yet to get any formal report on as at Wednesday evening.

Speaking through the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ali Okechukwu, Johnson said that the Command learnt of the alleged kidnapping from the Press 

“On this note, the Commissioner of Police, Abia State, has appealed to embassies in the country to advise their citizens to kindly apply for  and obtain Police security before they embark on any trip or for any leisure any time anywhere given what is happening this time around,” Okechukwu said while addressing newsmen Wednesday. 

He maintained that more than 72 hours after the kidnapping of the Germans, Abia State Police Command was yet to receive any formal report of the incident which took place at the Azumini Blue River in Ukwa East local Government Area of the state. 

“I want to make it categorically clear that the Command also got the news just from the Press too because as I speak with you, there is no official report of the alleged kidnap incident anywhere in Abia State Police Command,” said  Okechukwu. 

He said the Command had to swing into action when journalists started calling in to make enquiries, adding that it was gathered from witnesses in the Azumini community where the Blue River is located that some white men usually visit the river for picnics and they usually come with Police security. 

The witnesses, according to Okechukwu, said that “ On Sunday, when the said Germans visited the river with about three girls without any security and after swimming, and as they were coming out, some people shot in the air and the three girls and the driver ran into the bush while the abductors were said to have taken them (white men) away in their own vehicle towards the boundary between Abia and Akwa Ibom.” 

He said the Police also gathered that the three girls and the driver came out of the bush and drove away in the jeep they came in, apparently to Port Harcourt . “We learnt they came from Port Harcourt ,” Okechukwu said.

 “Up till this moment, we don’t know whether they are actually Germans. We do not know their names. We don’t have any report anywhere,” the PPRO added.