Kidnappers on Tuesday night abducted a businessman, Mr. Emmanuel Nwogu, on his business premises in GRA Port Harcourt in the presence of helpless clients and onlookers.
Witnesses said the armed men arrived at the DeBooth lounge newly opened by Mr Nwogu early this year between 8 and 9 pm posing as clients of the bar cum restaurant before hatching their plot.
Only two weeks ago, a similar incident occurred at another ‘joint’ within the same area during which there was a shootout between security men at the ‘joint’ and the hoodlums. One of the kidnappers was gunned down.
As at press time, the abductors had contacted Nwogu’s family but no terms had been reached on the ransom and release of the businessman.
Until January this year when he opened DeBooth lounge, Mr Nwogu was co-owner of Landmark Hotel, also in Port Harcourt. The incident adds to the increasing routine of kidnapping, robbery and allied crimes in Rivers State.
As in other parts of the country, crime has been on the upsurge in Port Harcourt in recent months and residents said they live in fear.