Former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, his son inlaw taken by gunmen

There was pandemonium as Uche Nwosu, the son-in-law to a former governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, was whisked away from a church service at his hometown, Eziama Obieri in the Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo State.

Today the 26th of December 2021, Uche Nwosu and his family were at St Peter’s Anglican church for a thanksgiving service when the gunmen, who operated in an Armoured Personnel Carrier and Hilux vans, stormed the area.

Before taking their target away the gunmen shot indiscriminately. Uche Nwosu's security operatives watched without resisting the gun-wielding persons.

Reacting to the strange scenario friends and associates of Uche Nwosu have alleged that he was kidnapped, while some are of the view that his arrest was masterminded by the state governor, Hope Uzodinma.

But in a swift reaction, the state commissioner for Information and strategy, Declan Emelumba, said that the governor had no hand in what happened.

However, in a further development, the Imo State Command of the Nigeria Police has said that the son-in-law of former Governor Rochas Okorocha, Chief Uche Nwosu, was arrested and not kidnapped as being speculated.

Armed officers had stormed St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Nkwerre and arrested Nwosu during church service, leading to earlier speculation that he may have been abducted.

Clarifying the issue, the police command, through a statement by its spokesman, Michael Abbattam, said it was an arrest by operatives of Nigeria Police and not a kidnap.

The statement reads in part:  “This is to inform the general public that Chief Uche Nwosu was not kidnapped but was arrested by the police and Imo state police command is aware of the arrest and presently he is in police custody.

“This is to refute the earlier news that has been  making the rounds on social media that he was kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

“The Commissioner of Police, while using this medium to assure Imolites of the command’s commitment in ensuring the safety of life and property this yuletide seasons, advised the general public to always shun fake news."