6 DAYS AFTER: No Word From Rivers Kidnapped Commissioner

Six days after the Rivers State Commissioner for Power, Mr Augustine Nwokocha, was abducted by unidentified gunmen, no contact has been established with them.

The incident occurred on the heels of the killing of his mother and orderly by some gunmen months ago. Information available at the time of the incident indicated that he went to inspect some areas affected by the recent flooding in the state when he was kidnapped. Although details are sketchy, the government in a statement by the State Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, assured that security agencies are on top of the situation and have the full cooperation and backing of the government to ensure that Nwokocha is rescued and the perpetrators brought to book. The Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi has directed the security agencies to ensure the safe return of Nwokocha without delay. The statement further said: “The security agencies are working on a number of leads and a combined search mission is in full swing to unravel the untoward development.” It pointed out that the state has enjoyed relative peace and quiet until now. On 28 October last year, the mother of the commissioner was gruesomely murdered at her home in Okposi,Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local Government area of Rivers State. Governor Amaechi then directed the State Police Command to fish out the killers of Madam Lucy Nwokocha. It was not clear at press time if it is the same gang that killed Madam Nwokocha that abducted the commissioner. The Commissioner had also escaped assassination attempt when gunmen killed his orderly. The commissioner is in charge of the state Ministry of Power that has one of the highest budgetary allocations because of Amaechi’s avowed commitment to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to the state by December this year.