Gunmen kidnap youth president of Urhobo Progressives Union

Ovie Anthony, president of the youth wing of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), was abducted in the Oria axis of Warri in Delta state late Friday.

Anthony was said to be returning from a meeting when the incident happened.

The gunmen reportedly robbed other occupants of the vehicle which was conveying Anthony, before seizing him.

Celestina Kalu, spokeswoman of the Delta state police command, confirmed the incident, saying men of the anti-kidnapping squad as well as local vigilante groups have been dispatched to rescue the victim.

The motive of the kidnappers is not yet known, as they have not contacted his family members as at the time this report was filed.

Commenting on the incident, one of the friends of the victim said: “The cases of robbery/kidnapping along that route has assumed an alarming dimension.

“Shamefully, there are several police checkpoints along that route, with some spanning less than 300 metres apart. It’s sad that despite increasing budgetary provisions for security votes, there’s rising insecurity in the land. The Delta state government must rise above the rhetorics of ‘Prosperity for all Deltans’; the foremost prosperity is that of the human life.

“The governor and his cabinet members must be worried over the growing kidnappings along the Warri–Eku–Abraka road, the robberies in Warri and environs as well as the issues of cultism, robberies and assassinations in Ughelli.

“A few weeks ago, it was Vincent Oyibode and his wife who were kidnapped along the same route, yesterday, it was the turn of Ovie Igho Anthony; who will it be tomorrow?”