AFTER hours of uncertainties and counter-claims, the Imo State Police command has disclosed that a former governorship candidate in the state, Uche Nwosu, was arrested by its men, and he is now in their custody.
“Nwosu was arrested by the police, not kidnapped as insinuated in the social media,” stated the State’s Police command, adding that the arrest was in connection with “a case that is under investigation.”
Nwosu’s associates had earlier accused Governor Hope Uzodinma of having masterminded the arrest of their principal.
The State commissioner for Information and strategy, Declan Emelumba, said it was “ridiculous” to allege that the governor had a hand in Nwosu’s disappearance.
However, Michael Abattam, Imo State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), who had earlier claimed he had no information about the ‘abduction’ or whereabouts of Nwosu, has now confirmed that Nwosu was indeed arrested, not kidnapped.
Uche, son-law to former Governor Rochas Okorocha, had been reported kidnapped or abducted by some unknown gunmen this morning, during the Outing Service of his mother, Jemamah Nwosu.
Speaking at the funeral service at the St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Nkwerre, the Imo West lawmaker said, “Six governors and other prominent Nigerians, who had promised to be in Imo State for the burial, could not come because of this ugly development of insecurity.
“I am not particularly happy with these stories of killings. This is not the Imo State we used to know. The youth should be prepared to use their voters’ cards to remove a bad government,” said Nwosu.
His arrest, which was initially said to be a ‘kidnap’, happened shortly after the statements were uttered.
The report went viral in minutes, raising concern about security situation in the state, and the fate of the outspoken politician
Nwosu, and his father-in-law, Okorocha have been strident critics of the Hope Uzodinma’s administration, especially since the governor went after his predecessor, accusing him of corruption, and seizing some choice property from him.
Police spokesperson for the Imo command, Micheal Abattam, said that he was not aware of the incident.
Recall that Okorocha had recently lamented the rising spate of insecurity in the state.
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