The Chairman of Sapele Local Government Area in Delta State, Bright Abeke, was reportedly abducted on Friday evening by unidentified gunmen.
According to eyewitness accounts, the incident occurred at about 7:25 p.m. at a hotel situated along Owumi Road in Sapele.
Witnesses said the attackers arrived in a vehicle and began shooting sporadically, creating panic in the area before whisking the council chairman away to an undisclosed location.
The sudden attack threw the neighborhood into confusion, with residents and bystanders scrambling for safety as gunshots rang out.
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During the incident, a member of the local vigilante group identified as Ufuoma and another individual were reportedly injured. The injured vigilante was said to have been rushed to a nearby medical facility for treatment, although his condition had not been officially confirmed as of press time.
Security agencies are yet to issue an official statement on the abduction, and it remains unclear whether any arrests have been made or if contact has been established with the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, supporters and political associates of the abducted chairman have gathered in the vicinity, anxiously seeking updates on his whereabouts and expressing deep concern over his safety.
The incident adds to growing security concerns in parts of Delta State, as residents call on law enforcement authorities to intensify efforts to secure the safe release of the local government chairman and restore calm in the area.