By Barnabas Augustine
A senior figure in Anambra's youth development department and his partner have been seized by armed criminals during a daring daylight attack. Patrick Aghamba, the commissioner, was travelling with his wife when their convoy was targeted on a major road linking the south and the nation's capital, Abuja.
Tragically, a member of the commissioner's entourage, Kpajie ABK Offiah, a prominent local figure and supporter of the ruling party, was killed in the incident.
The group was en route to Abuja to attend the nuptials of Governor Chukwuma Soludo's offspring when the ordeal unfolded.
The exact location of the abduction remains shrouded in uncertainty, with conflicting reports placing the crime scene in either Kogi or Edo state. Authorities are currently investigating the matter.
This shocking kidnapping comes hot on the heels of another high-profile abduction in the region. A group of medical students were snatched by bandits while travelling through Benue state. The victims were making their way to Enugu for a medical conference when they fell prey to the criminals.
The spate of kidnappings has ignited fresh concerns about the security situation in the country and the vulnerability of civilians on the nation's highways.