The story of the (now-freed) kidnapped family in Abuja sparked outrage on social media. Members of a family of five, known as the #najeebaandhersisters, were kidnapped at their home, and their abductors demanded a ransom of 60 million naira. The family was unable to raise the ransom and turned to social media for assistance.
This elicited a flurry of reactions from the public. Political commentators also weighed in, using the opportunity to discuss what their candidates could have done better.
An X (formerly Twitter) user, Joseph Onuorah, a social commentator and supporter of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, commented, saying that his candidate would have been proactive in rescuing victims. He said, “Imagine if HE Peter Obi is president and you kidnap a whole family and run to the forest… That will mean the end of existence of that forest. After rescue, It will be turned to National Park and amusement center in a matter of days! That’s what serious Presidents do. “
Bashir Ahmad, the digital communications assistant to the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, and a member of the All Progressive Party (APC), responded to the political taunt by claiming that a former deputy governor of Anambra state was kidnapped and killed during Peter Obi’s tenure as governor, even after his family paid the demanded ransom.
“Did you know that during Peter Obi’s tenure as governor of Anambra, the state’s former deputy governor, Dr. Chudi Nwike, was kidnapped, taken to a forest, and killed, even after the victim’s family paid a ransom? The only reason I won’t ever pray for Peter Obi’s presidency is because it is taboo to wish bad things upon your own country.”
Claim: Was the former deputy governor of Anambra State assassinated during Peter Obi’s tenure as governor?
Verification:
The CDD War Room investigated the claim and discovered that Chudi Nwike served as Anambra State’s deputy governor from 1991 to 1993. He served as Chukwuemeka Ezeife’s deputy on the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ticket before the military sacked them.
On March 19, 2013, Nwike was kidnapped in his home state of Anambra. His kidnappers demanded a ransom of 30 million naira, which was negotiated down to 5 million and paid by his family. After the ransom was paid on April 5, 2013, the kidnappers cut off communication and became unreachable. The former deputy governor’s body was found a few days later, slain in the middle of the road near Agbor, Ika South LGA, Delta State.
Peter Obi was the top political official in Anambra State from 2007 to 2014, and he was in office as the governor of the state when the unfortunate incident occurred.
Verdict: True.
Chudi Nwike, the former deputy governor of Anambra State, was kidnapped and murdered during Peter Obi’s tenure.
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