UNCERTAINTY has continued to trail the fate of an ex-federal lawmaker and former member of the Delta State Executive Council, Hon Joan Onyemaechi following her kidnap by unknown gunmen. Recall that Hon Onyemaechi was whisked away by yet-to-be identified gunmen on Tuesday in Asaba, the state capital, during an evening church service. A video later surfaced on the internet which captured the kidnappers getting away through the River Niger after setting their vehicle ablaze amid heavy gunshots.
It was said that some security operatives and an aide attached to the high-profile politician died in the process. With her whereabouts remaining unknown at the time of filing this report, yesterday, rumours filtered through the media space suggesting that the lawmaker had been murdered by her assailants, while others alleged that her abductors were demanding an N300m ransom.
However, the Delta State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has dispelled rumours that Hon Onyemaechi has died in the hands of her kidnappers as circulated by some online news vendors. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bright Edafe, who confirmed this to The Pointer yesterday, also dispelled rumours that the kidnappers demanded an N300m ransom to release the former federal lawmaker. The police spokesman in the state cautioned journalists to always verify their sources before posting, publishing or broadcasting news through their channels, and mediums so as not to mislead the public. Another source quoted Edafe to have said, ‘’It was not her (Onyemaechi) corpse that was found at the foot of the Niger Bridge.
Also, the family has not come forward to identify the corpse for verification’’ The source added that a search party had been deployed to the River Niger to ascertain if a corpse was truly at the banks as claimed in some quarters. Amid the tragedy and ensuing confusion, Deltans have continued to pray for the safe release of the former lawmaker and former Director General of the State Capital Territory Development Agency, recalling her philanthropy and contributions to society.
