Gunmen Abduct Ohanaeze Youth President in Fresh Attack

Tension rises as unidentified gunmen abduct the Ohanaeze Youth President, raising security concerns in the region. Authorities launch investigation.

The Imo State Police Command has verified the kidnapping of Igboayaka Igboayaka, the President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), by unknown gunmen.

According to reports, seven armed individuals forcibly entered Igboayaka’s residence in the Works Layout area of Owerri, the capital of Imo State, on Saturday evening and abducted him.

Chilos Godsent, the National President of the Igbo National Council (INC), issued a statement on Sunday calling for urgent measures to secure Igboayaka’s release.

The spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, DSP Henry Okoye, confirmed the incident and mentioned that investigations are ongoing to ascertain Igboayaka’s whereabouts. He also clarified that there was no involvement of police in any arrest connected to this case.

Okoye stated that the Imo State Police Command has launched an investigation to locate Comrade Igboayaka, the President of Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC). He also confirmed that Comrade Igboayaka has not been arrested. The public is encouraged to immediately contact the police with any information.

Godsent detailed the incident, explaining that armed men dressed in black arrived in a Sienna and a Lexus SUV before abducting Igboayaka.

Godsent reported that on Saturday, February 8th, 2025, around 7:00 pm, they received the distressing news of gunmen clad in black—about seven in number—arriving in a Sienna and a Lexus SUV. These individuals forcibly apprehended Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), employing tactics akin to those used by Neo Mafia Gestapo at Works Layout Owerri in Imo State.

He also disclosed that efforts by family, friends, and OYC members to contact Igboayaka through his mobile phones have not been successful because his lines were turned off after the abduction.

Based on the above, the Igbo National Council (INC) urges the leadership of the Nigerian Police Force in Imo State to promptly take action to identify and publicize those responsible for abducting Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, President of Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), on Saturday evening, February 8th, 2025, in Owerri Metropolis,” he stated.