Arms-wielding kidnappers., on Friday night, kidnapped the Chairman of Sapele Local Government Area, Delta State, Chief Bright Abeke, in an attack that sent panic to the environs.

The council boss was reportedly whisked away at a hotel along Owumi Road, Sapele, amid heavy gunfire.

The hoodlums, according to sources, numbering about seven, stormed the premises of the hotel and went straight for their target, before forcefully taking him to an unknown destination.

The attackers had arrived in a Range Rover SUV and two other vehicles, shooting sporadically to disperse residents and guests at the hotel.

Sources disclosed that a member of a local vigilante group, identified simply as Ufuoma, were shot during the attack, as he tried to prevent the abduction of the council chairman, and was later rushed to the hospital.

Security operatives have since cordoned off major entry and exit points in Sapele as efforts are intensify to rescue the abducted chairman.

The incident comes barely 24 hours after suspected gunmen issued threats to unleash violence in the area, heightening concerns over rising insecurity in the locality.

As at the time of filing this report, the Delta State Police Command was yet to respond to the incident.