admin
The Petroleum Retailers Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has asked the Inspector General of Police(IGP) to intervene in the search for Obasi Lawson, the association’s Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman, who was abducted in Azumini community, Abia state.
In a statement, Joseph Obele said Lawson, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Sobaz Group of Companies, was abducted on Tuesday last week.
“The incident occurred on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at around 7 pm, when Chief Obasi Lawson’s SUV was ambushed, resulting in the death of his driver, Mr. Anayo Ukwu, and his special assistant, Mazi Confidence Chijioke, who were in the same car with him. Meanwhile, the three policemen with them escaped,” Obele said.
He continued: “Mazi Confidence Chijioke was a highly respected member of PETROAN, serving as the vice chairman of the Rivers State chapter, Managing Director of Dozzman Filling Stations, and holding various other positions within PETROAN.
“His death is a significant loss, especially since he was preparing to commission his latest multi million naira filling station in Port Harcourt.”
The National President of PETROAN, Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, while addressing newsmen condoled with the family of Mazi Confidence Chijioke, describing his death as one injury too much to bear.
PETROAN Queries Escape of Policemen
While the association raised concerns about Lawson’s whereabouts, it also called for an investigation into the three policemen who were with him during the attack.
“PETROAN is appealing to the IGP to take immediate action to ensure the safe rescue of Chief Obasi Lawson,” Obele said.
Meanwhile, Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region disclosed on Sunday that the operatives of the Abia State Police Command reportedly found the remains of three individuals, including an officer, after a violent attack on Azumini Ndoki community in Ukwa East LGA of the state.
Zagazola quoted intelligence sources as saying that the victims were among those abducted on March 4 when armed men, in a Toyota Sienna, ambushed a convoy escorting Obasi Lawson, a businessman.
The publication said the attackers shot and killed the driver and another passenger before fleeing with the businessman and a police officer from his security team.
Makama said police operatives, after days of extensive search operations, recovered two bodies on March 8, later confirmed to be the driver and a civilian passenger.
The publication said further investigations led to the discovery of Tanko Natip’s remains in a nearby bush.
Natip, an assistant superintendent of police (ASP), had his body photographed and moved to Okeikpe Mortuary in Ukwa West.
Makama stated that the whereabout of Lawson remains uncertain as tactical teams, aided by tracking technology, continue to search for him.
The source added that security has been strengthened in the area, with more tactical teams deployed to deter further attacks and monitor the movements of the suspected abductors.
