Gunmen have abducted the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Petroleum Retailers Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Chief Obasi Lawson, in the Azumini area of Abia State.
Confirming the incident on Friday, Public Relations Officer of Abia State Police Command, Maureen Chinaka in a statement she signed, noted that the abduction took place on March 4, 2025, at approximately 7pm.
The police spokeswoman disclosed that a dark blue Sienna vehicle carrying unidentified gunmen ambushed Lawson’s convoy while he was returning to Port Harcourt through Azumini Ndoki, Ukwa East Local Government Area.
“While the officers were repelling the attack, another set of gunmen forcefully took Chief Lawson, ordered him into their vehicle, and took him to an unknown destination, leaving his driver and one other person dead,” she said.
The state Commissioner of Police, CP Danladi Isa, who visited the scene alongside the Deputy Commissioner of Operations and other security teams, urged residents to remain calm and vigilant.
He assured the public that intensive patrols had been activated across the area to track down the assailants.
Authorities have deployed police tactical teams to comb the region for the kidnappers, while security agencies are working to ensure the safe rescue of Chief Lawson.
The police have also called on the public to report any individuals with gunshot wounds or any sightings of the dark blue Sienna vehicle to the nearest police station or through the Command’s emergency lines.
