Gunmen on Sunday night kidnapped a serving officer of the Nigerian Navy, Lieutenant IS Ozouwa, along with some civilians at the Upper Iweka Roundabout, Onitsha, Anambra State.
Lieutenant Ozouwa, who was serving at Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) OLOGBO, was on transit from Port Harcourt.
Sources confirmed that he was released from NNS OLOGBO on Friday 13 January 2023 to attend his Long Course programme.
The source noted that “yes, I can confirm the abduction of the serving Naval officer. He was actually abducted at Upper Iweka Onitsha with some other civilians about 1830 Hours on 15 January 2023. He was on transit from Port Harcourt, Rivers State and was released from NNS OLOGBO on Friday 13 January 23 for his Long course.
“As at the time he was kidnapped, he sent a distress message to the Base Operations Officer of Naval Outpost (NOP) Onitsha and the officer quickly alerted own troops stationed at various checkpoints along different exit routes from Onitsha.
“Also, the Navy’s Quick Response Force (QRF) was deployed immediately and efforts are ongoing, along with other security agencies, to rescue the officer. No efforts are being spared to ensure the officer is rescued.”
Upper Iweka, a popular location in Onitsha, Anambra State serves as a meeting point of travelers in and around the State and mostly serves as a departure point from Onitsha to any part of the country.
It is also known as location of hoodlums, thugs, illegal tax collectors, “agboro” boys etc that perpetrate all forms of crimes and create fear among travelers.