From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Women of Ahia Asa, Umuopara clan of Umuahia South Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia State, yesterday, protested the abduction and the continuous keeping in captive of their son, Prof Uwadinachi Iweha, by his suspected kidnappers.
The women marched to the palace of their traditional ruler, Eze Godfrey Ibekanma, to express their anger and bitterness that their illustrious son was abducted on June 5, and has since then, not been seen.
The woman leader, Mrs Sally Ukauwa, represented by Dame Victory Asomugha, said they were not happy their son was abducted for this long and nothing has been heard about him till date.
“Our son left his house to worship God, they called him from the church, he went back home and till date we have not seen him. We want him back, he is our son we are proud of. We are also calling on government and security agencies to expedient action for his release.”
Wife of the abducted don, Mrs Ngozi Iweha, said the abduction took place in front of their house at Ezeleke, Umuopara, on his return from church.
“We are traumatised. These two months are like hell for all of us. We are pleading with those holding him to release him alive for us, and we are also begging the government and security agencies to ensure his release from his abductors.
The traditional ruler of the community, Eze Godfrey Ibekanma, said the 14 autonomous communities of Umuopara were in his palace for a second protest over the abduction of their son, Prof Iweha. He said Prof Iweha’s abduction has remained a big blow and devastating to the entire people of the area.
While commending doctors in the state for mounting pressure for the release of the university don, the royal father called for more efforts to get the man out of captivity alive.
The family, in a release signed by the first son, Chukwudi Iweha, said immediately after their father’s kidnap, the next day the kidnappers contacted the family and a ransom was paid, but, till today, the man was yet to be released.
“As a family we are not able to discern the motive behind this act or to even point any accusing fingers at anybody, we have our trust in God that he will return and be reunited with us in good health.
“We appeal to the media to create further awareness of our painful and traumatising situation, with the hope that anyone with information would come forward and it would lead to the rescue or release of our father.”