By David Ajiboye
Popular veteran Nollywood actor, Pete Edochie has been kidnapped by unknown kidnappers in Onitsha, Eastern part of Nigeria. The famous actor was kidnapped on Sunday, Aug 16, 2009 around 3.
Three people were confirmed dead on the spot and about 20 injured people were taken to the hospital. Details of the kidnap was still foggy at press time, although the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka confirmed the development, he, however, said that the state police command was still trying to get a clearer picture of the situation.
It was gathered that shortly after the kidnap, somebody called his sister in-law, Mrs. Rita Edochie, who is also an actress, asking her to call her Edochie’s number, adding that the number rang several times, but was not answered. It was then that the family got the information that three people were allegedly shot during the scuffle to kidnap him before the kidnappers were able to take him away.
State Police Commissioner, Mr. Uzor Amankulor said in a telephone interview that he immediately relocated to the area with a view to rescuing the popular actor, adding that he and his men have started combing the bushes in the area to rescue him.
Edochie, a devout Catholic, is considered one of Africa’s most talented actors, by both Movie Awards and Movie Magic’s Africa Magic Cable network. Although, a seasoned administrator and broadcaster, he came into prominence in the 1980s when he played the lead role of Okonkwo in an NTA adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s all time best selling novel, Things Fall Apart .
Edochie descends from the Igbo-speaking part of Nigeria. He has two sons that take to his acting traits; Linc and Yul Edochie.He got into radio broadcasting in 1967 as a junior programmes assistant after which he was elevated to the level of a Director. He was director of programmes, but doubling sometimes as Deputy Managing Director and occasionally acting as Managing Director. He quit ABS because the government decided to politicise the affairs of their FM station, thereby resulting in the entire management being asked to move out, including him. He was to be the immediate successor to the MD but had to leave and enrol into the movie industry.
Prior to that, he had featured in Things Fall Apart and had won an International Award. The BBC flew into Nigeria to interview him for his role in Things Fall Apart . He lived with his wife and two sons in Enugu, Enugu State in south-eastern Nigeria. In 2005 the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria placed Pete Edochie and several other actors, including Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Nkem Owoh, Ramsey Noah, Stella Damasus Nzeribe.