Atuma Aro, Mazi Lawson Obasi, who was abducted by gunmen on the night of Tuesday, March 4, 2025 has been released.
Mazi Obasi (SOBAZ) is the Board of Trustees Chairman of Petroleum Retailers Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN).
Though details are still sketchy, sources confirmed that Obasi was released in the early hours of Monday March 31, 2025 and is now reunited with his family, associates and community.
The Atani, Arochukwu Welfare Union Worldwide, had on March 5, 2025 alerted Nigeria of the abduction of Mazi Obasi and the “brutal and senseless murder” Mazi Chiedozie Confidence Chijioke, CEO of Dozzman Oil Ltd” and his Special Assistant, Anayo Ukwu.
Chijioke was a respected member of PETROAN, serving as the Vice Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter, Managing Director of Dozzman filling stations, and holding various other positions within PETROAN.
Obasi and the murdered Chijioke and Ukwuwere killed as they journeyed back to Port Harcourt from a peace-seeking mission at Atani, Arochukwu aimed at resolving the lingering boundary issues between Atani and the neighboring communities of Okpoto and Obotme.
The Atani, Arochukwu Welfare Union Worldwide lamented that “armed men, filled with evil and cruelty, ambushed and accosted them along the Azumini-Ndoki Road in Ukwa LGA, Abia State. The convoy came under heavy attack. Three police officers attached to them barely escaped, but our dear brother, Mazi Chiedozie Chijioke, was cruelly cut down by the bullets of these wicked men, alongside the driver of Chief Lawson Obasi. And as though that bloodshed was not enough, they abducted Mazi Lawson Obasi, and to this moment, his whereabouts remain unknown.
“This is a monumental loss to Atani, Arochukwu and Abia State. Mazi Chiedozie Chijioke was not just a shrewd businessman. He was a patriot, philanthropist, employer of labour, industrialist, A man of vision and courage, whose love for Atani knew no bounds. He stood for peace, development, and progress. His passion for Atani, for Arochukwu, and for Abia State was unparalleled. In his prime, he was taken from us, leaving a wound that may never heal.
“Mazi Lawson Obasi (SOBAZ) needs no introduction. A giant in philanthropy. A man who single handedly constructed roads in Atani and provided solar lights for both Atani and Arochukwu, illuminating the lives of countless families. Today, we do not know his fate, but we stand in prayer, in unity, and in faith, calling upon God Almighty, the ancestors of Atani, and all well-meaning Nigerians to intervene and secure his immediate release, unhurt.
“On a very serious note, this callous and abominable act must not go unpunished. Yes, this cowardly and despicable act by bloodthirsty gunmen is condemned in the strongest terms.
“Atani, Arochukwu, and all peace-loving people cannot and will not be silent in the face of such evil. This was an attack not just on two men, but on the entire Atani Community. It was an assault on peace, on unity, and on everything we stand for.
“We call on the government of Abia State, the security agencies, the Army, the DSS, and all relevant authorities to take immediate and decisive action to bring the perpetrators to justice. Those responsible for this heinous crime must not go unpunished. The killers of Mazi Chiedozie Confidence Chijioke, DOZZMAN and the kidnappers of Mazi Lawson Obasi, SOBAZ must be tracked down, arrested, and made to face the full wrath of the law.
“Umu Atani, we must remain united, consoled and steadfast. In this moment of great sorrow, we urge all Umu Atani, both home and abroad, to stand strong, to stand together, and to honor the memory of our fallen hero, DOZZMAN .
“Let us hold his family in our hearts and in our prayers. Let us support one another and ensure that the ideals of progress, unity, and selflessness that Mazi Chiedozie Confidence Chijioke stood for never fade away.
“To his grieving family, we offer our deepest condolences. Words fail us, but know this: he did not die in vain. Atani will forever remember him. His legacy will never be erased.
“To the family of Mazi Lawson Obasi , we stand with you in this hour of trial. We will not rest, we will not be silent, until he is found and brought home safely.
“We pray that God Almighty, the Great Architect of the Universe, the spirits of our ancestors, Ndi Ichie Atani and the justice power of Ala Atani will avenge this wickedness. We pray for comfort, for strength, and for peace. And most importantly, we pray for the immediate and safe return of Mazi Lawson Obasi, SOBAZ. May Mazi Chiedozie Confidence Chijioke, DOZZMAN and the driver rest in eternal peace. Atani will never forget.”
