News: Gunmen abduct The Nation’s Abia correspondent, Ugochukwu Ugorji-Eke

A staff of The Nation Newspaper, Ugochukwu Ugorji-Eke, who covers Abia State for the title, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen. His abduction took place on Sunday, November 16th in front of his premises at Toengine Crescent, off Ovom Road, Ogbor Hill, Aba.

An eyewitness account has it that Ugorji-Eke was at about 7.30pm returning from an outing when the kidnappers came at him, dragged him out of his car and whisked him away in their car.

The kidnappers, who warned his wife not to involve the police in the negotiations or risk losing him, are said to be demanding for a N20million ransom. The state Police commissioner says they are investigating the matter.

Meanwhile the Abia State government has pledged to do its best in ensuring the early release of the abducted correspondent of The Nation newspaper.

The Commissioner for Petroleum and alternate Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Don Ubani, who stated this while briefing newsmen at the Government House, wondered why Ugorji-Eke would be the target of the kidnappers, being merely a journalist, who does not constitute a threat to anyone and of the middle class.

While noting that the state government had risen to the occasion and made necessary contacts with the various security agencies in the state with a view to securing his release, the Commissioner expressed optimism that the kidnapped journalist would soon regain his freedom.