Terror rages in Imo as kidnappers abduct popular Cement merchant

By Chidi Nkwopara, Owerri
TRADERS in the building materials market, Naze, Owerri North Local Council of Imo State, are now living in fear, following the abduction, last Thusday, of one of them, Mazi Bertram Nwosu, by kidnappers.

Crime Alert investigations revealed that Mazi Nwosu, said to hail from one of the communities in Ideato, was trailed to his warehouse by the hoodlums. One of the traders who witnessed the incident said “the hoodlums numbering about four stormed Nwosu’s warehouse located along the Naze/Egbu Road in a red Toyota Camry saloon car.” He added that the stern-looking kidnappers initially pretended to be customers of the cement merchant and when the situation was ripe, they struck.

“They shot severally into the air and people who were around the vicinity quickly scampered into safety. They really struck when it was safest for them to do so,” the trader said.

A plumbing materials dealer, who also spoke on grounds of anonymity, said: “We are now living in fear, it appears that the hoodlums have remembered us. It is only the quick intervention of law enforcement agencies that will save this ugly situation else, most of us will think of relocating to another state.”

Efforts made to reach the leadership of the traders before going to press failed as the proposed plan to elect a new executive last Wednesday failed before Bertram was kidnapped Thursday. At press time, it was not clear if the hoodlums had established contact with any member of Bertram’s immediate family.

When contacted, the police public relations officers officer, PPRO, Mr. Sam Oodee, denied knowledge of the crime but quickly added that “most times, family members of kidnap victims fail for personal reasons to report such sordid incidents to the police” and assured that the command has fine-tuned its operational plans to tackle crimes. He urged the criminals to relocate or turn a new leaf in their own interest.

via Vanguard