74 yrs old medical doctor yet to be released, 66 days after his abduction

*Clan tasks government to ensure his release, unharmed

From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

 Grieving women and people of Umuopara clan in Umuahia South local government area of Abia State have renewed their appeals to the state government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the release of their prominent son and renown medical doctor, Sir Prof. Uwadinachi Iweha.

Dr. Iweha, 74, the Provost of Amachara Medical College, Umuahia, was abducted in front of his house in Ezeleke autonomous community on Sunday, June 5, 2022, is still in captivity.

Family sources said on that fateful day (June 5, 2022), Dr Iweha was preparing for Church Service when he received a call from one Chief Ibeaja who informed him that Prof. Gregory Ibe, who owns the Medical College, had directed that he should proceed that same day to an Anglican Church at Old Umuahia and represent him (Prof. Gregory Ibe) at a function.

Dr. Iweha returned home early from his Church around 11:45 am, to change his cloth and proceed for the function to represent his Boss, Prof. Gregory Ibe. Upon reaching home to change his clothes, he was accosted by the assailants in front of his home and taken away with the university official car.

Worse still, Iweha’s abductors severed communications since they received their ransom the next day and their victim is nowhere to be found till date.

This prompted the Women of Umuopara clan comprising 14 autonomous communities to embark on another round of protest in round the clan on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, to express their apprehension over the fate of their illustrious son whose community spirit, humanitarian works and philanthropy has been unrivalled.

The protesters trooped to the palace of their traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty, Eze Godfrey Ibeakanma, Eze Ukwu 1 of Ezeleke, to register their disappointment that Dr Iweha was yet to be rescued, 66 days after his abduction.

Vice President of Umuopara Women, Dame Victoria Chinedum Asomugha, who led the protesters on behalf of the their President, High Chief Sally Ukauwa, to the palace of their traditional ruler, said the women were embittered by the continued stay of Dr. Iweha in captivity, saying that the victim’s absence was adversely affecting the clan because of the essential services the abducted doctor renders to the clan.

Dame Asomugha said that nothing would assuage their anger, anguish and depression, except Dr. Iweha was returned to them, hale and hearty.

“We are here today to tell the government to please, help us. Wherever he (Dr. Iweha) is, let them locate him and release him for us. We want him alive. We want him because he has a lot of work to do for us; the work he has at hand has yet to finish, we need him back to our community,” Asomugha said.

Contributing, President-General of Ezeleke Autonomous Community, Odimba Philip Maduakolam, said “nobody is happy in our community. We want the government and security agencies to fish out where our son is. Please we are begging for his release.”

Mrs Ngozi Iweha, wife of the abducted septuagenarian medical doctor, said the family has not been the same since the unfortunate incident, nine weeks ago. “We are traumatized; it has been like a hell for all of us. We are pleading with the government, the security and all those involved, to release our father, our husband, our grandfather, Sir Prof. Uwadinachi Uchemadu Iweha, to us, alive and well,” she sobbed.  

Giving further insight into the feeling of the family since the incident, son of the abducted 74 years old medical doctor and spokesman for the family, Engr Chukwudi Iweha, in a statement, said the incident has left them in deep shock and distress since ransom was paid the next day after his father was kidnapped but he was yet to be seen or heard.

“We, the members of this family are in severe shock and distress over the incident of the abduction of our Husband, Father, and Grandfather, Sir Professor Uwadinachi Iweha, which sad event took place on the 5th day of June, 2022. A ransom was paid the next day, but till today, our father has not been heard from nor has there been any communication with his abductors,” Chukwudi said.

Speaking on efforts to secure the release of his father, Chukwudi said that after protesting at the Governor’s house, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Abia State Chapter, went on strike for three days. “The NMA Chairman, Dr Chimezie Okwuonu and HRH Godfrey Ibeakanma (Eze Ukwu I of Ezeleke) have been very helpful to the family in writing and pushing the security agencies and government to look for him,” he said.

Chukwudi stated further: “The security forces have been working with some results, but nine weeks have passed and we, the family, and many friends have been mounting pressure on them to continue to investigate the matter to its conclusion.

“The Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has done a press release and offered a N5 million reward on information leading to his return. The Umuopara Clan Women also held a protest in the communities on the 25th of July, 2022, asking for his release from the abductors, and they are doing the same again today, August 9, 2022.

“Prayers have been offered by the Methodist Church, the village and many other Christian Churches. There has been no official statement from Gregory University Uturu, where he is the Provost of the Medical College, Amachara, Umuahia.

“As a family, we are not able to discern the motive behind this act or to even point any accusing fingers at anybody, we have our trust in God that he will return and be reunited with us in good health.

“We appeal to the media to create further awareness of our painful and traumatizing situation, with the hope that anyone with information will come forward and it will lead to the rescue or release of our Father. They can contact the police or 08035514107, 08036707100.

“We want to thank everyone who has contributed in one way or the other with prayers, suggestions, and proffered advice to us, we urge you all not to relent or be weary until success is achieved.”

Receiving the crowd of women protesters, Eze Ibeakanma, described the kidnapping of Dr Iweha as “very unfortunate,” adding “it hurts us.”

“He is the first medical doctor this village produced. He served in so many capacities: the state, the federal; even outside Nigeria. On his eventual retirement, he decided to come home to live a peaceful life and help develop his village and community which he has been doing,” Eze Ibeakanma said, stressing that Iweha’s abduction was a big blow to the community.      

The traditional ruler, while joining in the appeal to government and security agencies to ensure that his subject was freed by his kidnappers unharmed, urged that security be beefed up, not only in Abia but nationwide, lamenting that “Nigeria was drowning in insecurity.”