Ex-Rivers head of service, George Nwaeke, denies kidnap claims, says he’s safe in Abuja
Former Rivers State Head of Service, George Nwaeke, has assured the public that he is safe and currently lodging at the Transcorp Hilton hotel in Abuja, refuting claims that he had gone missing or was kidnapped.
Nwaeke’s statement comes after his wife, Florence Nwaeke, raised an alarm late Friday, saying she had lost contact with him after his resignation. In a tearful appeal, she told journalists that she feared for his safety, claiming his phone lines were unreachable and that she had seen an interview attributed to him online, which she doubted was authentic.
However, in a recorded video sent to journalists on Saturday morning, Nwaeke dismissed his wife’s claims, stating that he traveled to Abuja of his own accord to report himself to security agencies due to political tensions in Rivers State.
“I was Head of Service until Monday, and I resigned because of things happening. After the press interview I granted, I saw a video of my wife crying, saying I had been kidnapped. That is false,” he said.
“I am in Abuja. This is the Transcorp Hotel, where I am lodging. My wife does not know anything that happens in my office. The script they gave her is null and void. I am safe, and I intend to visit the security agencies tomorrow to report myself.”
Nwaeke had recently made allegations against Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, accusing him of supporting Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, for the 2027 presidential election and allegedly meeting with militants to encourage attacks on oil facilities.
In response, Governor Siminalayi Fubara dismissed Nwaeke’s claims as false, alleging that the former Head of Service had either been paid or pressured to make the accusations.
“Dr. Nwaeke has been compromised. Whatever he is saying is only aimed at fulfilling his promise to those who may have paid or coerced him to lie against me,” Fubara said in a statement issued late Friday.
The governor also released screenshots of chat messages purportedly between Nwaeke and his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, suggesting that his statements were politically motivated.
The controversy surrounding Nwaeke’s resignation and allegations against the governor has added to the political tensions in Rivers State, as security agencies are expected to step in to investigate the matter.
