.... No, He Was Arrested - Police.
A former Federal lawmaker and the Labour Party Senatorial Candidate for Ebonyi South Senatorial District in the 2023 general elections, Linus Okorie, was reportedly kidnapped by some gun wielding persons.
But, the Police in Abakaliki say, it was a case of arrest by the State government run Ebubeagu Security outfit.
The report of the alleged abduction of Okorie, the former member of the House of representatives who represented the Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency, was made public through a social media post by one, David Ogbonna on Sunday.
The post claimed that Okorie was kidnapped on his way to his house in Abakaliki by gunmen suspected to be men of the Ebubeagu Security outfit, accusing the Chairman of Onicha Local Government Area, the same Council area Linus Okorie hails from, of masterminding the kidnap.
Aides and associates of the Labour Party Senatorial candidate alleged that the politician, has been severely tortured to a near-death situation, made naked, and pictures of him taken by his abductors, at a location in the Old Government House, opposite the State Police Command headquarters, Abakaliki."
Although the Ebonyi State government is yet to react to the incident at the time of this report, the alleged victim, Linus Okorie, has in recent times been a vocal critic of Governor Dave Umahi's administration, using his Facebook platform.
He is also billed to slug out in the contest for the Ebonyi South Senatorial position with the sitting Senator, Michael Amah Nnachi and incumbent Governor, Dave Umahi whose two term constitutional tenure ends in May 2023.
On Monday, the Ebonyi State Police command issued a Press Statement saying the Labour Party Senatorial Candidate, for Ebonyi South Senatorial District, Linus Okorie, was never abducted but rather was arrested by the Ebubeagu Security outfit, over Drug-related matters and several other offences.
The Command's spokesman, SP Chris Anyanwu explained that "following the reported abduction of the former member of the House of Representatives, Sunday, the Police command swung into action and later traced the former Federal lawmaker to the head office of the Ebubeagu Security Outfit at the Old Government House, Abakaliki."
"Police detectives were briefed on why he was arrested which includes; his activities and utterances that incited and provoked the violence that engulfed Onicha LGA which led to suspected IPOB/ESN operatives or unknown gunmen to unleash mayhem in the area, leaving seven (7) persons dead at the end of that fracas. Hence, the case has now been taken over by the Police Command for a scrupulous investigation" the Press Release by Anyanwu, stated.
The Police spokesman, further gave other reasons for the arrest of Okorie to include; making of series of false allegations against the Government of Ebonyi State and the Police Command in his social media handles, as well as his pending case on drug related-offence.
"It is also pertinent to mention that Honourable Linus Abaa Okorie also have a pending case in which he is implicated in a drug-related offence where the suspects purported to be his agents were arrested for Hard drug sales and use at his City Hub Inn, Mile 50, Abakaliki. Case was later transfered to the NDLEA for further necessary actions", the statement reads in part.
In a twist, the Spokesperson of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ebonyi State, Patrick Eleri denied knowledge that the Labour Party Senatorial candidate and former House of Representatives member, Linus Okorie was involved in any drug related offence.
More trouble may be brewing in the State as hundreds of youths of Onicha Igboeze, the community where Okorie hails from, in the early hours of Monday, staged a protest in the area, demanding the immediate release of their kinsman.
Political observers on recent happenings in Ebonyi State contend that whether it was a case of kidnap or arrest of Linus Okorie, that last Sunday's incident was a sad commentary of a growing culture of political intolerance, intimidation and abuse of office that have taken over the democratic space.
They are urging the State Police Command to be mindful of the intrigues of politicians especially those in power, in orderings not to be used to abridged the rights of the opposition in the State.
