Senator Athan Nneji Achonu, the 2023 Labour Party Governorship Candidate in Imo State has strongly condemned the abduction of Hon. Ngozi Ogbu, a former legislator from Imo State, who was kidnapped in Okigwe at a time when his late mother’s body lies in the mortuary awaiting burial. The Senator described the incident as “a direct assault on Igbo values, culture, and humanity” and called for Ogbu’s immediate release.
Speaking in reaction to the disturbing development, Senator Achonu stated:
“No true Biafran should ever resort to kidnapping or punishing fellow Igbos who have already suffered enough in this country. Any son of Igbo land who engages in kidnapping and robbery brings shame to his family and community, and must be exposed and rejected because that is not who we are.”
The Senator appealed directly to those holding Hon. Ogbu, stressing the emotional weight of the situation:
“I appeal directly to those holding Hon. Ngozi Ogbu — whose aged mother lies in the mortuary awaiting burial to release him immediately and allow him the dignity of laying her to rest.”
He also challenged the logic of targeting innocent citizens instead of engaging the government through legitimate means:
“If there are grievances against government, let them be channeled to the appropriate authorities, not by tormenting innocent people.
Senator Achonu further decried what he described as a breakdown of moral values and cultural respect:
“Have we truly lost respect for motherhood, for the dead, and for our ancestors? In the name of God Almighty and the spirits of our forefathers, I plead: let Hon. Ngozi Ogbu go home to his family and to bury his mother.”
Finally, Senator Achonu called for an urgent and comprehensive security overhaul in Imo State. He stressed that unless deliberate action is taken to strengthen local intelligence networks, empower community policing, and hold public officials accountable, “the cycle of bloodshed, fear, and criminality will only worsen.”
“The time has come to move beyond empty rhetoric. Our people deserve safety, dignity, and peace. I call on both the Federal and State Governments, as well as our traditional institutions, to work together in building a security architecture that protects ordinary citizens,”
Closing his remarks, Senator Achonu anchored his appeal on Igbo wisdom:
“E jiri mara Igbo bụ nkwado na nkwanye ùgwù — what defines us as a people is solidarity and respect. Let us not betray our own identity by turning against ourselves.”
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