Anger In PH As Gunmen Abduct Wazobia FM Presenter …NUJ, Police React

A broadcaster with Cool/Wazobia FM Station, Port Harcourt, Mr Anthony Akatakpo, was yesterday shot and abducted from his home in Port Harcourt by gunmen, the family said.
The victim’s wife, Mrs Candy Akatakpo, said the kidnappers invaded their house at about 2a.m, captured her husband, shot him in the leg and took him away in his car.

She said the abductors demanded N10 million ransom for his release, adding that they operated for more than 50 minutes before leaving.
Candy said the kidnappers also took away some money and other belongings of members of the family.
She said that the family members were held hostage for sometime after which they left with their victim.
Candy said the family was apprehensive about the safety of Akatakpo because of the gunshot on his leg.
She appealed to the security agencies in Rivers State to do everything possible to secure his release.
The Rivers State Police Command has, however, confirmed the abduction.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Johnson Tunde Ogunsakin, led a team of officers to visit the house of the broadcaster in Port Harcourt.
Ogunsakin later told newsmen that the command had commenced investigation into the incident.
He said the police would work hard to free Akatakpo and apprehend the suspects.
Ogunsakin reiterated his warning to kidnappers and other criminals to leave the state or face the consequences.
In a statement signed by the Head of Stations, Cool/WAZOBIA FM and Nigeria Info, Port Harcourt, Aduratomi Bolade, yesterday, the management of STEAM & GLOBE BROADCASTING AND COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED, owners of the radio stations, condemned the kidnap of their staff and on-air personality on Wazobia FM Port Harcourt, Anthony Akatakpo, famously called Akas Baba.
According to the statement, ”Akas Baba was beaten and shot in the leg by the kidnappers in the presence of his children and wife, despite cooperating with his attackers. He was thereafter whisked away in his Mitsubishi Endeavor SUV with Registration Number LSD 871 CM. This very violent act still leaves Akas Baba’s family in great trauma.
“We hereby urge security operatives in the state to do everything possible to quicken the release of the ace broadcaster from the kidnappers’ den. We are worried that his health might degenerate if he does not get access to medical care as a result of the gunshot wound he sustained,” it added.
“We also enjoin anyone with vital information that could aid the release of Akas Baba to contact the nearest police station, or call the number: 08099930069 or send a text to 32355.
Similarly, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council has condemned, in strong terms, the abduction of Mr. Anthony Akatakpo, by yet to be indentified gunmen in the early hours of yesterday.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt and signed Chairman, Opaka Dokubo and Secretary, Stanley Job Stanley, respectively, the union wondered why journalists and other media practitioners in the country have become targets for kidnappers and armed robbers.
While decrying the increasing rate of kidnapping, armed robbery and general insecurity in the state, and the country in general, the NUJ called on security agencies to brace up and confront the menace before it gets out of hand.
The union appealed to the abductors of Akatakpo to release him unconditionally and without delay, so as to enable him seek medical attention over the gun-shot wound.
Reacting further, the Chief Press Secretary to the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Godswill Jumbo, in a statement, condemned, in the strongest terms, the reported shooting and kidnap of  Mr. Anthony Akatakpo by some hoodlums from his residence in Rumuekini in Port Harcourt.
“The act is condemnable because it engenders a deplorable watershed in our society where the purveyors of information are made unwieldy targets of crime and criminality.
“Let me, in tandem with all journalists and media personalities, demand the immediate and unconditional release of Akas Baba to his family unhurt”.
The Tide learnt that on-air-personalities from Cool/Wazobia FM and Nigeria Info are set to protest to the Rivers State police command headquarters today to register their demands for the quick release of their colleague and friend, Akas Baba.
Akas Baba is the host of “Make Una Wake Up”, the breakfast show on Wazobia FM, Port Harcourt.