Anambra State Commissioner for Youth Development, Patrick Agha-Mba, and his wife were reportedly kidnapped on Friday at Ubiaja Esan South-East Local Government Area (LGA), Edo State, Nigeria.
The Commissioner and his wife, it was gathered, were on their way in a chartered Sienna Bus to Abuja to attend the church wedding of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s daughter, when they were abducted.
The bus was said to be carrying Onitsha contingents to the wedding.
Also, the National Youth Council Chairman, Onitsha North, Kpajie Barr. Ernest Offiah popularly called ABK or Abubakar, who is an aide to the Commissioner, was also shot dead by the gunmen.
A video of the Sienna bus riddled with bullets had surfaced earlier yesterday, with a narration that best described the vehicle the Commissioner left with to the Abuja event.
However, at about 3pm, an Onitsha indigene had confirmed to TNC correspondent that the man shot dead in the viral video through the windscreen, was the Onitsha North NYCN Chairman, Barr Offiah.
The source went further to explain that the victim, who just celebrated his birthday two days ago, had gone on the travel with the Commissioner, who is also from Onitsha Community.
A media outlet had quoted the Press Secretary to Governor Soludo, Christian Aburime as having confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation, saying that measures were being taken to ensure the release and safe return of the commissioner as soon as possible.
However, TNC correspondent has yet to validate this confirmation with the Governor’s Press Secretary.
As at the time of filing this report, it was gathered that no contact has been established with the kidnappers.
