The Edo State Police command has stepped up manhunt for two political thugs who allegedly abducted Bar. Christian Orukpe Osemudiamhen and collected ransom from him .
The command stepped up manhunt for Festus Okodugha and David Eterebhe following a petition by PP: Ndubuisi Oraeyem & Co.Michael Ndubuisi Oraeyem, against the suspects described as scrunch supporters of All Progressive Congress (APC ).
The petitioner alleged that the suspects abducted him for supporting Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP) Mr. Peter Obi , adding that he was tortured, denied food and eventually collected ransom from him.
The petition written on June 18, 2022, to the State Investigation Bureau (SIB) the Nigeria Police Force,Benin City, Edo State reads,” Dear Sir, petition against Mr. Festus Okodugha and David Eterebhe Who are both supporters of
APC for conspiracy and kidnapping of Barrister Christian Orukpe on the 15th
Of June , 2022 , along Ekpoma-Irua Road
“We are a Firm of Solicitors representing Barr. Christian Orukpe Osemudiamhen (hereinafter referred to as our Client) and on whose behalf and authority we herein write.0ur Client informed us and we verily believe same that on the 15th day of June, 2022, he attended a political meeting in his local government area, Esan South East in preparation for the forthcoming presidential election wherein he is supporting Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
” According to our client, on his way back from the meeting with his friend Mr. Collins at about 7:30pm, he was accosted by four heavily armed men, who drove dangerously and blocked his car. That they ordered him out of his vehicle at gun point and whisked him away to an unknown destination.
“Our Client spent two excruciating days in the kidnappers’ den and they subjected him to various inhuman treatments including not limited to torture and lack of food and water throughout the two days of his captivity.
“Our Client was blindfolded all through the two days which prevented him from being able to identify the true identities of his abductors. According to our Client, the kidnappers repeatedly warned him to stop supporting Peter Obi and the Labour Party in the forthcoming presidential election. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of #20,000000 (Twenty Million Naira) from our Client before he could be released and his wife ended up paying the sum of #10,000000 (Ten Million Naira) before he was finally released on the 17th day of June, 2022.
“According to our Client, he honestly believes that the whole kidnapping process was masterminded and sponsored by Mr. Festus Okodugha and Mr. David Eterebhe ,who are members and supporters of All Progressive Congress political party (APC) because the duo have threatened him severally on phone and physically to stop supporting Peter Obi otherwise they would teach him a very bitter lesson of his life.It is in the light of the foregoing that we have decided to take this step of writing this petition to your office so that your good office may intervene and investigate the conspiracy and kidnapping of our Client (Barr. Christian Orukpe Osemudiamhen).
“Our Client is ready, willing and able to offer all necessary assistance, logistics and otherwise to ensure that justice is served in this matter so that the aforesaid alleged sponsors and the kidnappers are finally brought to book for their dastardly, inhuman and cruel acts against our Client. We thank you and look forward to your prompt action on this humble petition of ours”