The sleepy town of Ubima in Ikwerre local government area of Rivers State, the home of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the governor of Rivers State, was in a state of lawlessness as houses were set ablaze, properties worth millions of naira destroyed when the lifeless body of a kidnapped victim dumped in a bush, was discovered.
Angry youths of Omuowhor community, a clan in Ubima, in a reprisal act for the killing of one of their brothers, Mr. Eugene Orlu-Orlu a brother to Rev. Father Hyacent Orlu-Orlu, went berserk and torched several houses belonging to the parents of the suspected culprits.
According to a young man, an indigene of Ubima who spoke with the Political Editor of The Newswriter but pleaded anonymity, Late Mr. Eugene Orlu-Orlu, a retired Headmaster, was kidnapped in front of his house by his abductors who dragged him into their vehicle and disappeared at about 9.30pm, precisely on May 17th 2012. He said within few days of his abduction the kidnappers demanded for N10m ransom from the relatives of the victim.
Due to the refusal of the relatives to comply with their ransom demand, the abductors became furious, murdered the victim and dumped him in a bush.
Meanwhile, the family members tried to reach him through phone but could not as his handset was switched off, which made the vigilante group of Ubima town to conduct a search to locate his where about, but could not be find.
An ex-convict, Chinwe a native of Ubima was caught communicating with the abductors concerning the victims. He was apprehended and interrogated and found to be one of the abductors. He was arrested and detained at the SIB, Port Harcourt, where he was made to mention others of his colleagues which include Mr. Azuoma, aka Together, the son of a butcher, Gab who hails from Ubima, Mr. Bassey Amadi, Mr. Ben, an Ibo man, one Omademe and one Elele-Alimini man, a hotelier.
Three of the alleged abductors including Chinwe, Azuoma (Together) and Bassey Amadi from Ubima were arrested and detained in the SIB while others escaped. Mr. Bassey Amadi was later released for being only an informant.
The relatives of the victim threatened to arrest members of the kidnappers unless they produced their kidnapped brother within four days.
At the expiring date of the ultimatum, a hunter who hails from Elele Alimini, informed the relatives of the victim at Ubima that he saw the lifeless body of the victim where his abductors dumped him in a bush at Elele Alimini Emohua local government area and disappeared.
The angry youths of Omuowhor and the relatives of the victim rushed to the scene and discovered the lifeless body of the victim where he was dumped.
The angry youths of the area swung into action, burnt four houses of the parents of the kidnappers, destroyed their properties, while some persons in the area sustained injuries.
Meanwhile, the body of the victim, Late Mr. Eugene Orlu-Orlu, a retired headmaster, will be laid to rest at his home town, Omuowhor, Ubima, Ikwerre LGA on June 28, 2012.
The senior brother of the deceased, Elder Denis Orlu-Orlu, who spoke with the Political Editor of The Newswriter Newspaper at his residence Ubima, expressed shock over the death of his younger brother, describing him as a hard-working, soft spoken and kind man who took care of him while alive.
Elder Orlu-Orlu who lamented the untimely demise of his younger brother, said the death of Late Eugene Orlu-Orlu was like a dream to him, stressing that his death has created a great vacuum which could not be filled, praying that God should receive him in his bosom. ###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
