The Imo State Police Command has confirmed the kidnapping of the President of Ohanaeze Youth Council, Igboayaka Igboayaka, by gunmen.
On Saturday, seven gunmen allegedly abducted Igboayaka from his Works Layout apartment in Owerri, Imo State’s capital.
Chilos Godsent, the National President of the Igbo National Council, expressed concern over Igboayaka in a statement issued on Sunday.
DSP Henry Okoye, the Imo State police spokesperson, verified this on Sunday in response to journalist enquiries.
Okoye stated that the Imo Police Command had launched an investigation to ascertain Igboayaka’s whereabouts while denying 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 stated that 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 in 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 whereabouts have failed because all his mobile lines were switched off immediately after the ugly incident took place.
“On the foregoing, the Igbo National Council (INC) wishes 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.”