Mr Mr. Emmanuel Nwogu, a Port Harcourt-based businessman abducted Tuesday night has regained his freedom after about 72 hours in the hands of his abductors. He was freed around 11.45 pm Friday. It was not immediately known whether ransom was paid to the kidnappers as family members and friends refrained from speaking about ransom.
“We are happy he’s back, a friend of Mr Nwogu”, gushed; adding e’s such a good man and does not deserve this emotional torture”.
Kidnappers on Tuesday night abducted 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 lounge 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.
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.