Tension in Ebonyi after LP senatorial candidate’s abduction

…We arrested him – Police

THERE is palpable tension and apprehension in Ebonyi State following the abduction of the Labour Party Senatorial candidate for the southern district, Linus Okorie.

  The former House of Representatives member was on his way to his house in Abakaliki yesterday morning when unknown gunmen double-crossed his vehicle and took him hostage.

  A short video post on Facebook by his wife, Lilian, shows Okorie begging his abductors to release him unharmed.

  Commenting on Okorie’s abduction, today, a release issued by spokesman of his  campaign outfit, Dr. David Ogbonna allege that he had been severely tortured to a near-death situation, made naked and pictures of him taken by his abductors.

  According to Ogbonna, the motive of Okorie’s abductors was to torture him to death and dump his body at the Ebonyi River.

  “A professional tracking done on his lines reviewed Ogoja Road, near Police Headquarters as his current location. The second line showed Ebun-Nwana, Edda. We believe that his abductors may have kept his half-dead body at old Government house where the previous actions of the indicted militia group usually take place. It’s also alleged that from tomorrow, and days ahead, all Hon. Linus boys and supporters will be hunted down and made to face similar situation. We call on the security agencies to swing into action and unravel this situation, get Hon. Linus out and alive from his abductors and bring the perpetrators of this evil to face the wrath of the law,” he said.

  The police were yet to react to the incident but the attack has received total condemnation from the public.

  Meanwhile, Ebonyi State Police Command has debunked news of Okorie’s abduction.

  A statement issued by Spokesman of Ebonyi Command, Chris Anyanwu, to newsmen in Abakaliki on Monday, confirmed that Okorie was arrested and not abducted.

  He argued that Okorie, an ex-House of Representatives Member, was arrested over drugs-related matters and several other offences.

  Anyanwu urged the public to desist from painting pictures of insecurity in the state by propagating unfounded rumours.