Edo, Police Move To Rescue kidnapped PDP Chairman, APC Condemns Act

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Edo State Government has assured the public that it is actively addressing the kidnapping incident involving Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Chris Nehikhare, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, made this announcement in a statement released in Benin on Saturday.

Dr. Aziegbemi was abducted near his GRA residence on Friday night while returning from a meeting with Governor Godwin Obaseki at the Government House, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

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Nehikhare affirmed that the state government has intensified surveillance and is collaborating closely with security agencies to ensure the safe release of the kidnapped victim.

He added, “We have also heightened surveillance and enhanced security measures across the state to suppress these criminal activities and ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended and brought to justice.”

“We encourage residents to go about their lawful businesses without fear and urge them to call the state emergency numbers 112 or 739 to report all suspicious persons or activities within their environs,” he said.

Nehikhare reassured the public of the government’s commitment to protecting the lives and property of Edo residents.

He said the government would spare no resource in ensuring that the perpetrators of this dastardly act were apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.

Similarly, the Police Command in Edo said its operatives were collaborating with the local security network to rescue the victim unhurt.

The command in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Funsho Adegboye, received the report of the incident with shock.

Nwabuzor, however, noted that the CP immediately gave a marching order to the tactical team leaders to conduct a rescue party in collaboration with local vigilance groups and hunters.

The command’s spokesman said the CP solicited the cooperation of Edo citizens, urging them to give information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators and the rescue of the victim.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo condemned the abduction in a statement issued by its state acting chairman, Jarret Tenabe.

In the statement, APC attributed the development to the lack of strong security architecture in the state.

“The kidnap is a wake-up call on the Governor Obaseki-led administration that all is not well in terms of securing the state, which is the primary responsibility of government.

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“The APC, Edo State Chapter, uses this medium to demand the immediate and unconditional release of the PDP chairman,” it read.

The party, however, called on state security agencies to leave no stone unturned in the quest to ensure his release unhurt.

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