The family of Chief Enibe Francis, the abducted chairman of Mgbuka Amazon Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, reportedly paid the kidnappers a #5 million ransom demand, but he has not yet been freed.
Remember that on September 25, 2023—Monday Sit-at-home—the victim was kidnapped in the early morning hours by an as-yet-unidentified gunman, beaten to a pulp, and taken off in a waiting SUV.
The ASMATA President General, PG, Chief Humphrey Anuna, disclosed this information on Monday at the ASMATA Secretariat on Modebe Road in Onitsha. He said the kidnappers had promised to release him by last Wednesday or Thursday but had not yet acted on their promise.
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“We as traders, friends and family rallied round and raised the #5million but we are yet to see him. They said Wednesday or Thursday that they will release him but he has not been released,” he stated.
In his contribution, the President General of the Awba Ofemili community, Honourable Anthony Emenike Nwakeze, praised Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo for reducing the state’s rising crime rate and guaranteeing that the state will be free of crime soon.
“We are happy the governor is meeting with all stakeholders and Presidents-General, AVS and the youth volunteers are also out to fight crimes and criminality in the State. Insecurity is a national thing, it is not only in Anambra State,” he stated.
In response, Hon. Emeka Eze, the chairman of the Sokoto market, claimed that since his kidnapping, terror has gripped every market chairman.
“What happened was unfortunate, we have to embark on serious prayers for his release alive. Government should provide enough security to the markets if the Monday sanitation and prayer should continue because with the latest ugly development, fear has gripped traders.
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“We are not happy with what happened, that our brother is being held. Government should do something because it means we are not save. Nnamdi Kanu should also be released for all thses crimes to end.
“Vigilante group only can’t do this thing alone, there should be joint security operatives to face the fire power of the unknown gunmen because they don’t operate with pump action guns but military rifles like Ak47 guns and other sophisticated weapons,” he stated.
According to Chief Emmanuel Idoko, the chairman of Haruna Market, the market’s security was lax and not on high alert when the unidentified gunmen stormed the market in question because they were able to choose the chairman of Mgbuka Amazun Market without any resistance from the market vigilante group or any other individuals.
“We have security in my market and I am the Chief Security Officer, CSO, of ASMATA, we are asking the Governor to beef up security as this is a slight on the traders, it looks unbelievable that the market head was kidnapped. The governor is the one that asked us to do sanitation on Mondays, and open our shops. We discussed it with him during our last meeting at Awka and he assured us of provision of security. Markets suppose to have joint task force so that the traders will be determined.
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“We did our Monday prayers and stayed throughout , when we got the call, we decided to rush to Mgbuka Amazu, we are asking for more security from the Governor, the thing also put fear on traders, my traders did not turn up after the incident, we are praying for the release of Nnamdi kanu, that is our prayer every Monday so that the crime will end.
“I don’t know why some people will be terrorizing the market, we believe that if Nnamdi Kanu is released, all these hoodlums will stop, if other things come up, then we know that they are criminals not freedom fighters,” he further added.
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