Chief Engr. Berthran Mbah the elected chairman of Mbaitoli local government area of Imo State has been kidnapped by suspected gunmen.
JOURNALIST101 gathered that the chairman whose reign was truncated by the emergence of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha as the governor of Imo State was whisked away while on his way back after attending the annual August Women meeting where he was a guest of honour.
He’s in his middle 60s.
According to eyewitnesses, Chief Engr. Berthran Mbah who was driving in his Ash colour Highlander Jeep with registration number ABC451CV maneuvered the assailants when they double-crossed his vehicle but while running away, he crashed into a fence and they kidnappers that were driving an Ash Lexus jeep trailed him and took him from his car.
“When we heard the sound of the crash, we rushed out to see what happened but we saw the gunmen approach his vehicle, brought him out and carried him away in their car,” a motorcycle rider in the area told our correspondent.
Continuing, he said, “One of them entered the Chairman’s vehicle and followed their own vehicle. We tried following them because the youths came out but they started shooting and we had to go back. They later dropped his car by the express.”
Chief Mbah whose 3 years tenure as chairman is suppose to elapse on the 29th day of August, 2021 was kidnapped around Eziama, Nkwo orodo road of the council around 6PM a family source told JOURNALIST101.
“Chief Engr. Berthran Mbah was kidnapped this evening while returning from August meeting (women meeting) where he was invited as Special guest.
“He was taken away by the gunmen around Eziama, Nkwo Orodo road which is very close to our village. We have gone to recover the vehicle which was abandoned along Eziama road in Mbaitoli LGA,” said a family source who confirmed the development our correspondent.
Chief Engr. Berthran Mbah and others where elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC before the tenure of the former governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha elapsed.
However, when Emeka Ihedioha was elected as the Governor, he dissolved all the elected chairmen and ward councillors.
The elected Chairmen went to court and got a favourable judgement but the state government appealed the court ruling.
When the Supreme Court sacked Ihedioha and declared Sen. Hope Uzodinma the Govenor, he (Uzodinma) also refused to work with the persons elected even though they are from the same political party.
