Unknown gunmen kidnapped eleven staff of Umunneochi council in Abia State.
The council staff who have been mentioned to be coming back from the normal bridal ceremony of their colleagues at about 5pm have been seized by the unknown at Leru, a boundary city between Abia and Imo states alongside the Enugu - Port Harcourt expressway.
Sources advised Vanguard that the 11 staff have been travelling in a bus when the abductors struck. Among the staff escaped whereas the abductors took others into the bush.
Contacted, State President of the Nigeria Union of Native Authorities Workers, NULGE, Comrade Ikechi Nwaigwe, who confirmed the incident, disclosed that it has been reported to the Umunneochi Police Division and counseled the Chairman of Umunneochi council, Chief Ifeanyi Madu, for his efforts.
He mentioned; "Information reaching the NULGE office reveals that some members of our staff from Umunneochi LGA were kidnapped yesterday about 5 pm on their way back from traditional marriage of their colleague and taken into the bush along Enugu/Port Harcourt expressway within Imo/Abia state boundary in Leru town. Up to this moment, they are still in the custody of the kidnappers."
Nwaigwe, nonetheless, disclosed that the abductors have demanded a N50 million ransom and later diminished it to N25 million and urged members of the union to hope for the protected launch of the kidnapped staff.
"We urge all our members to pray for God's intervention for their release. There's nothing God cannot do. With prayers all things are possible to them that believe in God."Vanguard gathered that staff of the council have been convening prayer periods praying to God for the discharge of their colleagues.
Police Public Relations Officer, Abia State Command, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, was but to answer calls and textual content message despatched to his cell quantity, as at press time.