…..Family of Prof Iweha cries out over continuous disappearance of their father one year of his abduction, accuses Police of complicity
The family of Sir Prof Uwadinachi Iweha, Professor Of Surgery and former CMD, Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) abducted a year today 5th of June has made a passionate appeal to Governor Alex Otti to help in finding their father.
The family made their feelings known through the first son of the family, Engr. Chukwudi Iweha. They also indicted the Police for complicity over the whereabout of their father.
Speaking at their country home “said the Members of Sir Prof. Uwadinachi Iweha Family are still in shock and distress over the incident of the abduction of our husband, father and grandfather on the 5th day of June 2022, and one year later our father has not been seen.
The first son disclosed that there have been several protests by the Nigerian Medical Association, Abia State Chapter, who even went on a three-day strike in June 2022 due to the lack of government response. The Umuopara Clan Women also staged two protests over his abduction in August 2022. The Community Elder, HRH Godfrey Ibeakanma (Eze Ukwu I of Ezeleke), relations, and friends did their best to assist the family in pressuring the Security Agencies to intensify effort in ensuring his release from hands of his Abductors.
Engr. Iweha said with the help of Police and private security outfits they were able to track their father’s phone in Port Harcourt, he said discovering of the phone led to the arrest of five persons and later three of them were released with two still in Police custody.
He disclosed that they were not too happy the way Police in the State is handling the matter adding that it took efforts from his family for initial suspects to be questioned.
The first son disclosed that he called the mother on phone from his base in Lagos urging her to go to the Police to make enquiry on the matter but was surprised that the Police had perfected plans to arraign the two suspect in court without the knowledge of their family. He said the Judiciary strike in the State stalled the arraignment.
He disclosed that before the abduction of his father, he was the Provost, College of Medicine, Amachara, Umuahia (Gregory University, Uturu. He also said though the University did their best but the family had expected much more noting that his father rushed back home from church on Sunday to attend to an event that he was scheduled to represent the Chancellor of Gregory University, Prof Gregory Ibe but unfortunately the kidnappers were waiting for him at the gate of his house.
Stressing that the kidnappers initially made demand for ransom and the money was paid and they were told to go to the Army check point at Isiala Ngwa by the Express road to pick him.
Engr. reiterated that they went to the exact place and with the help of the Military men at the check point ,they searched everywhere but could not see him. He said afterwards the kidnappers stopped picking their calls.
He regretted that before now there have been many rumours of their father’s return from dubious sources.
“However, I want to state that we are still looking for our father and pleading with whoever planned his abduction or his abductors to please release him to us “As a family, we cannot discern the motive behind this evil act or 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 are appealing to our brand new Governor, Dr Alex Otti to use his good office to help find our father, he has served the State in various capacity and will be unfair for government to abandon him at this time.
“We appeal to the Media to create further awareness of our painful and traumatizing situation, with the hope that anyone with information will come forward, and it will lead to the rescue or release of our father.
Speaking, the Wife, Mrs Iweha said it has been a tortuous period of her life adding that the thought of his absence in this manner is unbearable. She also appealed to the Police to ensure his release from captivity.
