The Governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji, said those who killed the State’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Kenneth Nwosu, had also been killed by security operatives in gun battle near Ikwuano.

Mr. Orji made this known at the funeral service for the late Nwosu held at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Amizi-Olokoro, on Friday.

“Nwosu was shot by kidnappers. He was shot twice for resisting an attempt to kidnap him.

“They shot him in the thigh and later in his abdomen when he resisted attempts by the kidnappers to bundle him into their car,” he said.

He said a medical team, led by Austin Mbanaso, the Chief Medical Director of State Specialist and Diagnostic Centre, Umuahia, made frantic efforts to save his life to no avail.

Mr. Orji said that Mr. Nwosu distinguished himself as an agriculture expert and acquitted himself as a commissioner by bringing remarkable transformation to the ministry.

He said that the state was beginning to reap from his wealth of experience before death struck.

The governor promised to appoint another person from Olokoro as commissioner.

In his sermon, Ugochukwu Ezeoke, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Ecclesiastic Province of Aba, said the deceased lived a life of service to God and humanity.

He said those who killed him dashed the hopes and expectations of the people as he made positive impact on the lives of the people that came across him.

Mr. Nwosu retired as Executive Director, National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike in Abia before his appointment as commissioner.

He was killed by gunmen on July 9 while returning to his home at about 8.30 pm.

(NAN)