Following the kidnapping of Linus Okorie, the Labour Party senatorial candidate for the southern district, there is a tangible sense of tension and apprehension in Ebonyi State.
On Sunday morning, the former member of the House of Representatives was traveling to his home in Abakaliki when gunmen, who were apparently members of the state-sponsored Ebubeagu Security organization, double-crossed his car and kidnapped him.
Although the police have not yet responded to the incident, the public has strongly condemned the attack.
His wife, Lilian, pleaded with his kidnappers to let her husband go free in a brief video posted on Facebook on Sunday.
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However, according to a statement by Dr. David Ogbonna, spokesman for the politician’s campaign organization, Caring Heart, the information that is currently available confirms that he was severely tortured until he was in danger of dying, stripped naked, and had pictures of him taken by his captors.
He claimed that Okorie’s captors wanted to kill him through torture and then throw his body in the Ebonyi River.
According to Ogbonna, Okorie’s phones are currently in the possession of the team leader of his kidnappers.
“A professional tracing done on his lines assessed “Ogoja Road, near Police Headquarters”, as his present position,” the speaker claimed. “Ebun-Nwana, Edda,” was written on the second line.
We suspect that his captors may have kept his partially dead body at the old Government House, the regular location of the militia group under indictment’s previous deeds.
“We call on the security agencies to swing into action and unravel this situation, get Hon. Linus out and alive from his captors and bring the perpetrators of this evil to face the wrath of the law,” the statement reads. “It’s also alleged that from tomorrow, and days ahead, all Hon. Linus boys and supporters will be hunted down and made to face similar situation.
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He pleaded with Okorie’s fans, Caring Heart members, and friends to refrain from engaging in illegal activity and let the security officers carry out their official duties.
In the February 2023 senate election, Okorie, who served as the National Assembly’s representative for the Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency from 2011 to 2019, would face strong opposition from Governor David Umahi.
