—Search underway for missing woman as family mourns slain sibling
There was panic in Osisioma, near Aba in Abia State, on Friday night after a bride-to-be, Uzoamaka Joseph Aliu, was abducted and her brother, Chibueze Franklin Joseph, was shot dead by suspected gunmen just hours to her wedding ceremony.
The tragic incident occurred around 8:00 p.m. on June 20, 2025, when the siblings were reportedly heading to a church in preparation for the nuptial event.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that Chibueze, 27, had travelled from Owerri to support his sister’s wedding and was assisting with logistics when the assailants struck.
According to eyewitnesses, a group of armed men intercepted their vehicle and shot Chibueze in the neck before forcefully dragging Uzoamaka into their getaway vehicle—a black Toyota Sequoia SUV. The registration number of the car remains unknown.
The attackers reportedly pushed Chibueze out of the car before speeding off with the bride-to-be. He was later found lying in a pool of blood and rushed to a nearby medical facility, where he was pronounced dead.
His body has since been deposited at Alanwendu Mortuary in Osisioma for preservation and autopsy.
Sources close to the family described Chibueze as enthusiastic about the wedding, noting that he had taken personal responsibility for coordinating many aspects of the ceremony.
The shocking incident has plunged the family and community into mourning, with what should have been a day of celebration turning into a nightmare.
Security analyst, Zagazola Makama, who confirmed the incident on Sunday, said security agencies have launched a coordinated search operation to locate Uzoamaka and bring her captors to justice.
“The police, local vigilantes, and community stakeholders are currently involved in a manhunt to rescue the abducted woman and apprehend the criminals responsible,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, and police authorities have yet to issue an official statement.
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