Gunmen Abduct Father of Former Ebonyi Deputy Governor

The security situation in the South-East took a personal turn for the political elite on Sunday morning, March 1, 2026, as gunmen kidnapped Mr. Francis Igwe, the father of the immediate past Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Kelechi Igwe.

The abduction occurred in the Ndufu-Alike community of Ikwo Local Government Area while the elderly man was driving to a morning church service. According to community sources, the assailants, who were operating on a motorcycle, intercepted Mr. Igwe’s vehicle and double-crossed him. He was reportedly forced out of his car at gunpoint and whisked away on a motorcycle to an unknown destination.

Key Details of the Incident:

• Victim: Mr. Francis Igwe (father of former Deputy Governor Kelechi Igwe).

• Location: Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo LGA, Ebonyi State.

• Time: Sunday morning, March 1, 2026.

• Method: Interception of his vehicle by gunmen on a motorcycle.

The Chairman of Ikwo Local Government Area, Sunday Nwankwo, has confirmed the development, stating that the council is coordinating with various security agencies to track the abductors and secure Mr. Igwe’s release.

As of Sunday afternoon, the Ebonyi State Police Command, through its spokesperson Joshua Ukandu, has yet to issue an official update, though local reports indicate that a search-and-rescue operation is being mounted in the surrounding forests. This incident follows a string of high-profile kidnappings in the region, highlighting the persistent challenge of highway and rural insecurity.