Terrorists abduct businessman in Gov Tambuwal’s hometown in Sokoto

BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto

Yet to be apprehended gunmen in Tambuwal town of Tambuwal local government area of Sokoto State, on Sunday night abducted a businessman, Mr Tony Udemezue from his residence.

Tambuwal town is the State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal’s hometown.

Mr. Udemezue, who is a Parishioner of the Catholic Church of Sokoto Diocese, was said to have put a call across to the Nigeria Police at the time of the incident to come to his rescue but to no avail.

Giving insight into the incident, the Director of Communications, Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Father Christopher Omotosho solicited prayers for the safe release of the abducted businessman and his family.

A short statement by Father Omotosho read, “One of my parishioners in Tambuwal, Sokoto State – Tony Udemezue has just been kidnapped in his own house (hometown of the Executive Governor of the State – Aminu Tambuwal).

“No Police has responded in the last 1 hour (since 2am) despite they were called by him before he was taken away. Pls let us keep him & family in prayers.”

Efforts to get confirmation from the Nigeria Police at the time of filing this report proved unsuccessful. It was, however gathered from a reliable source within the security system in the state that the Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, CP Usaini Gumel might be personally heading to Tambuwal town to assess the situation himself.

Speaking on the devastating degree of insecurity affecting the area lately, a local from the area who gave his name as Shuaibu Mohammed said they have been sleeping with their eyes wide open for some time now.

According to him, the terrorists recently combed villages in the local government and rustled unspecified number of herds.

He equally added that, the terrorists do come in their numbers wielding dangerous weapons as they operate uninterrupted before vanishing into thin air.

Shuaibu however lamented that the abductors of the businessman must have done that with an insider informant, adding that they (residents of the area) are at the mercy of the terrorists as they are now living in perpetual fear over who will be the next target or victim.