THE mafia-like scenario, which took place during the abduction of Governor Ngige of Anambra state two years ago, has played itself out in Delta state as a group of suspected cultists kidnapped the Deputy Chief of Staff and a Special Adviser in a broad day light.
A lawmaker (names withheld), suspected to be the brain behind the invasion has been arrested by the police.
Vanguard gathered that the incident took place at the old Deputy Governor’s Office near the Benin-Asaba road last Thursday afternoon. The Deputy Governor, Chief Benjamin Elue and his staff relocated to their new office complex near Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS) office on Okpanam Road only yesterday.
Kidnapped were the Deputy Chief of Staff Government House, Asaba Chief Emmanuel Ejiofor and the Special Adviser to the State Deputy Governor (Political) Mr. Vincent Ugbelese.
An eyewitness told Vanguard that the arrested lawmaker who is from the Anioma area of the state had earlier gone to the office of the Deputy Governor demanding to know why he was allegedly sidelined in the ongoing compilation of fresh Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) membership register as it concerns his local government government area (Ika North East LG).
Leadership of the PDP recently ordered a fresh registration of pary members across the local government areas of the state.
The legislator was said to have left in anger threatening to deal with the Deputy Chief of Staff for going ahead to distribute the cards due to Ika North East local government area without handing same to him, and bluntly refused to accept the explanation offered that the directive was that the cards should be given to local government party chairmen and secretaries in the respective local governments only.
A hot argument was said to have enused between the legislator and the Deputy Chief of Staff.
A few hours after the exchange, two mini buses loaded with suspected armed cultists invaded the office brandishing guns and dangerous weapons and succeeded in kidnapping the two men.
Ugbelese was later rescued from the boot of one of the buses while Ejiofor was however lucky as he escaped from the hands of the abductors before they drove out of the office.
Men of the State Security Service (SSS) attached to the Governor’s Office later picked up the lawmaker.
Contacted, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Udom Ekpoudom confirmed the arrest of the lawmaker, saying, “yes, it is true he (lawmaker) is with us. He had made statement to us (police) and was allowed on bail. We are investigating the matter”, he said.
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