The Abia State Police Command has officially confirmed that Chief Lawson Obasi, a well-known oil and gas businessman, was kidnapped in a really tragic incident on March 4. Sadly, his driver and a special assistant lost their lives during this violent ambush. This all went down while Chief Obasi was traveling through Azumini, a community in Abia State, and he had security personnel with him.
In a statement released on Friday, the Police Command laid out what happened during that ambush. They confirmed that Chief Obasi, who happens to be the Board of Trustees Chairman of the Petroleum Retailers Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) and runs SOBAZ Oil and Gas, was taken by unknown gunmen. The attackers also killed two people, which has left the local community feeling pretty shaken and scared.
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Sergeant Judge Gubi, one of the officers on duty that day, shared that the team assigned to escort Chief Obasi had traveled all the way from Port Harcourt to Arochukwu. The ambush hit around 7:00 pm as they were making their way back to Port Harcourt, passing through Azumini Ndoki in the Ukwa East Local Government Area.
Out of nowhere, a dark blue Sienna cut off the convoy, forcing them to stop. Gunfire erupted, sending everyone into panic mode. In the midst of all that chaos, another group of armed men managed to grab Chief Obasi and shove him into their vehicle, taking him somewhere unknown.
It’s a real tragedy; the attack resulted in the deaths of Anayo Ukwu, Chief Obasi’s driver, and Mazi Confidence Chijioke, his Special Assistant. Chijioke was well-respected, serving as the Vice President of the PETROAN Rivers State Chapter, and his loss is deeply felt in the industry. The gunmen left the two victims behind as they sped off with Chief Obasi.
Right after the ambush, the Abia State Police Command wasted no time and sent tactical teams to the area, hoping to track down the kidnappers and bring Chief Obasi back home safely. They’ve launched an extensive search and are scouring nearby regions for any clues about where the billionaire might be.
CP Danladi Isa, the Commissioner of Police for Abia State, was quick to arrive at the scene with his team to assess what happened. He reassured the public that they’d ramped up patrols in the area and urged folks to stay calm but alert. They also asked anyone who might have seen anything suspicious—like people with gunshot wounds or that dark blue Sienna—to report it immediately to the nearest police station or their emergency lines.
“The crime scene has been thoroughly examined, and ongoing searches are underway to rescue Chief Obasi unhurt,” CP Isa stated. “We’re doing everything possible to locate and safely return the victim. We need the public’s help in sharing any useful information.”
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This abduction has sparked a lot of concern from both the local community and beyond, with many people calling for urgent action from law enforcement to ensure Chief Obasi’s safe return. The Petroleum Retailers Outlet Owners Association (PETROAN) has expressed its outrage over what happened, urging the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to look into the conduct of the three police officers who were part of the convoy during the ambush.
On Wednesday evening, Joseph Obele, the National Publicity Secretary for PETROAN, shared their distress in a statement. “The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, saw Chief Obasi’s SUV ambushed, leading to the tragic deaths of his driver and special assistant,” Obele said. “We’re really worried about Chief Obasi’s safety and are asking the authorities to act fast to find him.”
They also stressed how important it is to investigate what led to the ambush, especially the role of those three police officers. It’s odd that they came out of it unharmed, raising questions about how effective their response was during the attack.
Mazi Confidence Chijioke’s death has hit PETROAN members particularly hard, as he wasn’t just a key figure in the association but also a respected business leader in the petroleum sector. His passing has left a significant gap, and many are sending their condolences to his family and colleagues.
Meanwhile, DSP Maureen Chinaka, the police spokesperson, confirmed on March 7 that they’re actively investigating the abduction. She noted that the three officers—ASP Tanko Natip, Inspector Ernest, and Sergeant Gubi—were assigned to protect Chief Obasi and were indeed part of the convoy when the ambush occurred. However, the motivations behind the kidnapping and what the attackers wanted remain unclear.
“The attack was brutal and calculated,” DSP Chinaka said. “
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Reported by GistNexus Team and Edited by Mr. Chibueze Onwuka