Police Dismantle Deadly Kidnap Gang That Murdered Dozzman, Kidnapped Sobaz
March 4, 2025 – A Night That Shook Abia
Along Azumini Road in Ukwa East LGA, Abia State, a black SUV carrying top oil moguls and security personnel was ambushed by armed gunmen.
Inside the vehicle were:
- Chief Obasi Lawson – Chairman, PETROAN Board of Trustees, CEO Sobaz Group
- Mazi Confidence Chijioke (Dozzman) – MD, Dozzman Oil & Gas
- Mr. Anayo Ukwu – Director, Sobaz Group
- Three Police Escorts
In the attack, Dozzman and Anayo Ukwu were killed instantly, while the police escorts escaped under gunfire. Chief Lawson was abducted, sparking panic and grief across Port Harcourt’s oil industry and the Arochukwu community, hometown of the victims.
“It was a night of horror. The oil industry and our communities froze,” a source familiar with the case told Jungle-Journalist.Com.
Dozzman: A Life of Promise Cut Short
Mazi Confidence “Dozzman” Chijioke, 39, was a rising star in the energy sector:
- Vice Chairman, PETROAN Rivers Chapter
- Managing Director, Dozzman Oil & Gas
- Vision: Commission a multi-million-naira filling station in Port Harcourt
His brutal death robbed the industry of a young, visionary leader. PETROAN’s National President, Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, called it “an injury too much to bear.”
Sobaz CEO Endures Abduction Nightmare
Chief Obasi Lawson, a respected figure in Nigeria’s petroleum sector, faced weeks of captivity, during which he was reportedly tortured and threatened while kidnappers demanded ransom.
“The family and the industry were in constant anguish. Every day, hope wavered,” a source told Jungle-Journalist.Com.
PETROAN publicly called for a full investigation into the incident and questioned the actions of the three police escorts who fled the ambush.
Relief and Return – Lawson Freed
In the early hours of April 1, 2025, Chief Obasi Lawson was released from captivity, ending weeks of uncertainty and fear.
PETROAN’s National PR Officer, Dr. Joseph Obele, stated:
“To the glory of God, our BOT Chairman and MD of Sobaz Group, Chief Obasi Lawson, is back from the kidnappers’ net. We return every glory back to God.”
The release brought immense relief to the oil industry, Arochukwu, and surrounding communities, though the loss of Dozzman and Anayo Ukwu remains deeply mourned.
Police Retaliation – August 21, 2025
Intelligence led the Abia State Police Command to a hideout in Ikot Ukpon Village, Obot Akara LGA, Akwa Ibom State.
The Operation:
- 8:30 PM – Coordinated night raid by special units
- Six suspects arrested amid intense gunfire
Weapons Recovered:
- 2 AK-47 rifles
- 57 rounds of live ammunition
- 1 locally made pistol
- 6 magazines
- Fetish charms believed to be for “protection”
As officers withdrew, fleeing gang members launched a counterattack, triggering a gunfight. All six arrested suspects were killed while attempting to escape. Two police officers sustained injuries but survived.
Police Commissioner CP Danladi Isa stated,
“There is no hiding place for criminals in Abia State. This is a decisive step to dismantle kidnapping networks in our region.”
Mourning and the Human Toll
The attack sent shockwaves through Port Harcourt’s oil industry and the hometowns of Sobaz, Dozzman, and Anayo Ukwu in Arochukwu. Families, friends, and colleagues are still grappling with grief, while Chief Lawson’s safe return provides a bittersweet relief.
“Confidence was a visionary; Anayo loyal and dedicated. Their deaths remind us how fragile life and business can be,” an industry source told Jungle-Journalist.Com.
This saga underscores both the evolving threat of kidnapping syndicates targeting business leaders and the heroic role of the Nigerian police in dismantling these networks.