A famous broadcast journalist, Chinonso Uba, popularly known as NonsoNkwa, has been allegedly arrested by suspected operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Owerri, Imo State.
OsunDailyNG reports that Uba was arrested on Thursday in Owerri by gun-wielding plain-clothes men suspected to be operatives of the secret police shortly after he finished anchoring his morning programme on Ozisa FM, Owerri.
Confirming the incident, the manager of Ozisa FM, Rev Fr Raymond Nzereogu, said he was yet to ascertain if the journalist was arrested or kidnapped.
He said, “We don’t know if he was arrested or kidnapped. We have reached out to the State Security Service people, and they said that they were not responsible. We are heading to the police to confirm. We will keep you posted on any further development.”
Eyewitnesses say he was taken away from the premises of Assumpta Cathedral of the Owerri Catholic. Archdiocese.
It was gathered that Uba was driving in his car, when the attackers double-crossed him in front of the Holy Ghost College Secondary School junction.
An eyewitness told SaharaReporters that the gunmen operated in a Hilux vehicle, a Lexus 350, and another identified as ES 330.
His vehicle was abandoned at the scene as people rushed in an attempt to rescue him but were scared away by the attackers.
The source said, “Unknown people armed with AK-47 rifles have abducted my colleague, Theodore Chinonso Uba, NonsoNkwa of Ozisa 96.1FM, Owerri. This was 30 minutes ago in front of the Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri, on his way out after work this morning.
“Eyewitnesses said they looked like police or DSS as they blocked him off with not less than two vehicles at the entrance of the cathedral.”
Another source said, “He has been very critical of Governor Hope Uzodinma, as well as the killings in Imo State.
“He resisted them as he was shouting; they wanted to kill him before he was taken away in one of their vehicles. His jeep was not taken away alongside him. They were all dressed in black and blue attires, carrying guns while they were masked. They prevented people from making video of the incident. Let nothing happen to him, please.”
