The Imo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of the President of Ohanaeze Youth Council, Igboayaka Igboayaka, by gunmen.
The gunmen, numbering seven on Saturday, reportedly whisked away Igboayaka from his Works layout residence in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
The National President of the Igbo National Council, Chilos Godsent, raised the alarm over Igboayaka in a statement released on Sunday.
The police spokesperson for Imo State, DSP Henry Okoye, also confirmed this on Sunday following queries from journalists.
Okoye said the Imo Police Command had commenced an investigation to determine the whereabouts of Igboayaka, even as he denied knowledge of any arrest.
Okoye said, “The Imo State Police Command has initiated an investigation to determine the whereabouts of the President of Ohaneze Youth Council (OYC), Comrade Igboayaka. In the meantime, the command has confirmed that he has not been arrested. Anyone with information is urged to promptly notify the police.”
Godsent said seven gunmen, dressed in black, on Saturday, February 8, stormed Igboayaka’s residence in Works Layout and arrested him in a Neo Mafia Gestapo manner.
Godsent said, “On Saturday 8th February, 2025 at about 7:00 pm we heard the sad news that gunmen dressed in black and numbering up to seven arrived on a Sienna and a Lexus SUV and forcefully arrested the President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) – Comrade Igboayaka. O. Igboayaka—in a Neo Mafia Gestapo manner at Works Layout Owerri Imo State.
“Since this sad news, attempts by teeming Members of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), family members, friends and associates to reach him through his mobile lines to ascertain his way about have failed because all his mobile lines were switched off immediately the ugly incident took place.
“On the foregoing, the Igbo National Council (INC) wish to call on the leadership of the Nigerian Police Force Imo State Command to immediately swing to action to determine the identity of the gunmen that forcefully took the President of Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC)—Comrade Igboayaka.O. Igboayaka—captive on the evening of Saturday, 8th February, 2025, in Owerri Metropolis and thus make the same public.”