Onyebuchi, son of Igwe Oliver Nnaji, the abducted traditional ruler of Ogwuaniocha Community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, has appealed to Governor Willie Obiano to rescue his father and bring the kidnappers to justice.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported on Friday that the 71-year-old monarch was said to have been abducted from his palace on November 15. The people of the community on December 14 stormed the Government House, Awka, to protest against the incident.

Nnaji said, “My father has been in captivity for about six weeks now. We have made several efforts, written petitions to the concerned authorities and up till now, no government intervention.

“Ogwuaniocha Community has the highest number of oil wells in the state and my father had been working with the state government to ensure Anambra becomes an oil-bearing state. I cannot understand why the state government has abandoned us and watch while my father will just be humiliated and abandoned to die like nobody in the hands of hoodlums.

“My family and the community are appealing to Governor Obiano to mobilise the security agencies to rescue my father and restore sanity and order in the area.”

The President, Ogwuaniocha Youths Association, Mr Uchenna Onyedi, expressed sadness over the monarch’s disappearance, saying, “It is sad that in spite of the credible information we gave to the government and the police about hideouts of the suspected notorious gang for urgent rescue of the Igwe, it’s all to no avail. Also, this gang has been terrorising people and burning houses.

“People have fled their homes, while others are celebrating Christmas, my community is in crisis.”

Confirming the development, the spokesperson for the state Police Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said search and rescue operations were ongoing.

“We even got a tip-off that the Igwe might be kept in some areas and we have combed those places. Unfortunately, he was not there. But rest assured that the police are still searching. No stone will be left unturned to rescue the monarch,” he added.

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The state Commissioner for Information, Mr C-Don Adinuba, expressed worry over the incident, assuring the people that efforts were still on to rescue the traditional ruler.

He added, “It is not right to discuss security measures being taken to trace the royal father’s whereabouts. As an individual, I feel pained by what is going on in the community. I advice the youth to shun every form of violence as that will only be counter-productive.”

Intensify search, mother of kidnapped LP gov candidate begs gov

Meanwhile, Mrs Ada Agbasimalo, mother of the kidnapped candidate of the Labour Party in the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State, Mr Obiora Agbasimalo, has urged Obiano to intensify search for her son.

In a statement on Friday in Awka, Agbasimalo said she was awaiting the return of her son who had been in the kidnappers’ den for over 90 days.

The candidate was reportedly abducted on September 18, along with his security detail on his way from Ezinifitte to Azia in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State. He was on his way for an election campaign but nothing has been heard of him since then.