The Anambra State Commissioner for Sports Development, Mr. Patrick Aghamba, and his wife, who were abducted by unidentified gunmen in Kogi State on Friday, have regained their freedom.
The couple was kidnapped while en route to Abuja to attend the wedding of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s daughter on Saturday. Tragically, during the abduction, the gunmen reportedly shot and killed the Commissioner’s aide who had accompanied them on the journey.
The incident, which has cast a shadow over the weekend’s wedding celebrations, led to widespread concern across the state. The Commissioner’s abduction prompted other wedding attendees to scramble for flights from Anambra, Umuleri, Enugu, and Asaba airports to Abuja, with many overbooking flights in a bid to ensure their safety and attendance.
No official statement has been released by the Anambra State government regarding either the kidnapping or the subsequent release of Mr. Aghamba and his wife. Furthermore, there has been no mention of how their release was secured, leaving many questions unanswered.
The news of their release was broken by an unnamed official within the state government, who expressed relief over the couple’s safety but did not provide further details.
The Governor’s daughter had previously celebrated her traditional wedding at her father’s country home in Isuofia, Aguata Council of Anambra, a fortnight ago. The recent events, however, have somewhat dampened the atmosphere of what was expected to be a joyous occasion in Abuja.
