Anxiety as gunmen kidnap popular businessman in Imo

There was tension on Friday evening when unknown gunmen kidnapped the owner of Johnny Supermarket and Pharmacy, John Ugorji, at the popular Ikenegbu Layout, Owerri, the Imo State capital.

It was gathered that Ugorji had earlier resisted abduction, which warranted the bandits to shoot sporadically in the air.

This, according to a source close to the victim, caused apprehension and scared the people away as they scampered for safety.

The source further said, “The incident happened between 10:00 pm to 11:00 pm while he was driving home in his SUV.

” The owner of Johnny Supermarket and Pharmacy, Chief John Ugorji, who is located in Ikenegbu Layout in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, was abducted by unidentified gunmen on Friday evening.

According to a source, “Ugorji had resisted being kidnapped, which prompted the bandits to shoot erratically into the air. The source said that this scared people away and caused them to flee for cover.

“The event occurred between 10:00 and 11:00 pm while he was driving his SUV home.

He was approached at his drugstore, but when one of his car’s tyres got stuck in a gutter, he attempted to run from the gunman. They then dragged him out of his car, shoved him into theirs, and sped off to an unidentified location. They arrived in two cars.”

According to the source, “The kidnappers have not yet made contact with the family members. We hope that the kidnappers will spare his life and let him return home unharmed.

He said Ugorji hails from the Umueshi community in Ideato-South Local Government Area of Imo State.

Confirming the report, the Imo Police Spokesman, Henry Okoye, said a distress call was received from an eyewitness at Ikenegbu, Owerri Urban, that he saw armed men dragging a man out of his vehicle and taking him hostage.

On receipt of this information, Okoye said, “Operatives of the anti-kidnapping squad were swiftly marshaled to the scene. But unfortunately, the hoodlums had already escaped with the unsuspecting victim, highly suspected to be one John Ugorji ‘m’ before the arrival of police operatives, a vehicle suspected to be that of the victim was recovered at the station.

“The victim’s family is yet to make an official report to the police. However’ discreet investigations are ongoing for possible rescue of the kidnapped victims as well as the arrest of his kidnappers.”