‘Kidnapped’ Nasarawa PDP candidate reappears, claims he was in ‘protective custody’

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Chris Mamman, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial aspirant, who was allegedly kidnapped on Sunday, re-appeared on Tuesday afternoon.

He said he had been in protective custody of security agents since his disappearance.

Mr. Mamman was declared missing by the director general of his campaign organization, Nawani Aboki.

Mr. Aboki said the aspirant was picked up at his house in Lafia around 8.30 p.m. on Sunday after a mob attacked him and burnt his car at the palace of Aren Eggon, Bala Angbazo, in Nasarawa Eggon.

Mr. Mamman, who refused to name the security outfit that held him in protective custody, said, however that initially he was unaware that the people who whisked him away were there to protect him.

“Let me sincerely thank the security operatives for the quick intervention, without which the situation, as I am talking to you now, would probably have been worse,” he said.

He alleged that he was assaulted by hired thugs at the palace of the paramount ruler of the Eggon nation, and his car also burnt when he went to attend a meeting at the invitation of Mr. Angbazo.

“It may interest you to know that I was invited by the Eggon traditional council for a meeting with two of my brothers who are equally in the race with a view to see how we can reach a compromise,” Mr. Mamman said.

“However, unknown to me, danger was ahead. Shortly after my arrival some political hoodlums attacked me and threatened to kill me.”

Mr. Mamman also denied misappropriating funds while he was president of the Eggon Cultural Association, ECDA, and also denied collecting N25 million from any quarter as donation.

“Let me also use this forum to address you on the rumour making the rounds that the attack on my person is because of misappropriation of funds belonging to Eggon Cultural Development Association, ECDA, of which before now I was the president,” he said.

He challenged anyone with proof to come forward and show evidence.

“As matter of fact the only contribution received from one of the aspirants, Senator Solomon Ewuga was N500, 000, which was used during the Azhili Eggon Cultural festival 2014,” he said.