Mrs. Alice Odimegwu, the wife of former Nigerian Breweries CEO, Mr. Festus Odimegwu, though already released, was kidnapped, during a church service on 13 March, 2010, in her hometown, in Imo

State. She heard gunshots and sensing she might be the target, attempted jumping the fence, when she was identified by one of the 30-gunmen.

She had three mobile police escorts, but according to the Imo Commissioner of Police, Okorie, the firing power of the criminals was superior to that of the policemen.

Her driver was killed in the process. Mrs. Odimegwu is allegedly warming up for the forthcoming Local Government chairmanship election and may have been a victim of political kidnapping.

Last year, a highly successful businesswoman, Mrs. Oby Chidiac (an Owerri woman married to a Lebanese) was trailed by her assailants, who pretended to be worshippers at the Liverpool Road, Apapa Catholic Church and was gunned down at the entrance of the church.

Also, not quite long, in Nsit Atai, Akwa Ibom State, the former Director-General of the NYSC, retired Major General Edet Akpan, was kidnapped, while he was inside a church service. He was bundled into the booth of a car and taken away by his captors. This was after the kidnappers had shot at the General’s bodyguards and in the process, killed two ladies who had come to the house of God to worship . The perpetrators, largely suspected to be sponsored are still at large.

Because of political kidnappings in church premises and social gatherings, most politicians nowadays keep off such events.

It is a pity that these situation is taking roots in many states of the federation, especially in the South-South and South-East,and the situation needs to be addressed before things get out of hand.



http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/letters/3216-these-kidnappings-must-stop.html