Panic as gunmen kidnap popular supermarket owner in Imo

Gunmen on Friday kidnapped the Proprietor of Johnny Supermarket and Pharmacy, Chief John Ugorji.

The incident occurred around 11:00pm as Chief Ugorji boarded his Jeep to drive home after closing at the pharmacy located in Ikenegbu Layout, Owerri, the Imo State capital.

Sources informed Chief Ugorji resisted the abduction leading to his captors shooting sporadically into the air ostensibly to scare away passersby and neighbours
A neighbourhood source said: “The incident happened between 10:00pm and 11:00pm as he emerged from his pharmacy and boarded his Jeep to drive home. “The kidnappers accosted him but he tried to flee. One tyre of his vehicle ran into and got stuck in the gutter.

“It was at this point they pulled him out of the vehicle and bundled him into their own vehicle and zoomed off to unknown destination. They came in two vehicles and did not take along his vehicle.”

Another source said the kidnappers were yet to make contact with his family as of Saturday evening.

“The abductors are yet to make any contact with his family members. Our prayer is that the abductors spare his life and allow him to return home,” the source said.

Chief Ugorji, who hails from Umueshi Community in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State is one of foremost operators of supermarkets in Owerri.

When contacted, Imo police spokesman Supol Henry Okoye who confirmed the incident said: On 30/06/2023 at about 0200hrs, a distress call was received from an eyewitness at Ikenegbu, Owerri Urban, that he saw armed men dragging a man out of his vehicle and taking him hostage. “On receipt of this info, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping squad were swiftly marshaled to the scene. But unfortunately, the hoodlums had already escaped with the unsuspecting victim, highly suspected to be one John Ugorji ‘m’ before the arrival of Police Operatives, a vehicle suspected to be that of the victim was recovered to the Station.

“The victim’s family is yet to make an official report to the Police. However discreet investigations is ongoing for possible rescue of the kidnapped victims as well as the arrest of his Kidnappers.” Nation