Enugu — Enugu residents, simple folk and government officials alike, are all jittery over their own safety, with the kidnap on Saturday of Dan Nwome, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Sullivan Chime.

Nwome was driving to his private residence at Independence Layout when his vehicle was waylaid by gunmen who grabbed and took him away.

It happened very close to his home, where he lives with his wife and children.

His captors had not established contact with the family at press time.

When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, promised to call the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), under whose jurisdiction Independence Layout falls, and get back to the reporter.

But he did not call afterwards, nor could he be reached for two hours, as his mobile telephone line kept saying 'not available.'

When Amaraizu eventually answered his phone at about 5 p.m., he said he was driving and could not speak.

However, a government official (names withheld) confirmed Nwome's abduction, and that the government is worried about it.

"For now, nobody knows whether it is a case of kidnap or assassination as his captors are yet to contact anybody, including the family. We are worried for his life and doing everything to ascertain his whereabouts," he said.