By Tunji Adedeji
Barely three weeks after a female correspondent of News agency of Nigeria (NAN) was released from kidnappers den after being abducted, a similar occurrence was recorded last Sunday.
While Imolites still ponder on this ugly development, a middle aged man (names withheld) said to be a business man has been abducted by unknown gun men.
He was kidnapped in front of his residence, around MCC road by Mountain of Fire, directly opposite Heavenly Hotel, Owerri North LGA of Imo State last Sunday around 8pm.
Trumpeta gathered that the kidnappers trailed their abductor from one of the happening Joints in town where he hanged out with friends that fateful evening before proceeding home as the gun men said to be five in number blocked his vehicle while waiting for the gate man to open the gate of his residence.
They carted away all his valuables including his Honder End of Discussion and whisked him away to an unknown destination.
Sources close to the victims family revealed that his brand new Honder, “End of discussion” was recovered along Awaka in Owerri North LGA last Monday, although all efforts made to reach the victims, family members proved abortive as they have all left the residence while it has not yet been ascertained if the kidnappers have demanded any ransom.
The Imo State Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Andrew Enwerem, DSP when contacted on the incident denied knowledge of such development, saying since the family chose to make it secret it should remain so. Adding that the matter has not been brought to his notice.
Meanwhile, determined to make Imo State a safe haven for investors and residents, the State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha said government is working hand in glove with all the Security Agencies to nip kidnapping and other violent crimes in the bud.
Governor Okorocha disclosed this when he visited the Department of State Security Services (DSS) Imo State command 6 kidnap suspects aged between 16 and 25 years were paraded.
The Governor who expressed worry at the resurgence of such ugly trend in the State announced that government is battle ready to end kidnapping and violent crimes in the State and assured Imo people that his government shall guarantee the safety of lives and property of residents in the State.
“But let me again warm all criminals, all kidnappers to get out of Imo State because this is not a place for you. We are ready for you,” he stressed. Owelle Okorocha recalled that 4 years ago before he assumed office as governor, the entire State was traumatized by the activities of kidnappers and criminals until his administration swooped into action to bring criminality to a halt.
The Imo Chief Executive maintained that government will continue to demolish houses belonging to kidnappers or any building where kidnap victim is kept, and therefore warned parents and guardians to always monitor the activities of their children and report suspicious movement, to security agencies.
“Any house of any kidnapper or where a kidnapper is found will be demolished and destroyed, more so houses of the kidnappers’ parents will equally be demolished if their lifestyle and means of livelihood does not justify the building”, he warned.
Earlier the Director, Department of State Security Services (DSS) Mr. Francis Ejiofor, explained that the commend has set up task force in the 3 zones of the State in line with the directives of the Director General of the DSS to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes. The task force, he said has recorded tremendous success in tracking and arresting kidnap cases in the State.
Mr. Ejiofor said the men of the State Security Services arrested the 6 paraded kidnap suspects on tip off while their victim, Mr. Nnawike Chilaka from Nkwerre LGA was freed after being held captive by his abductors for 5 days.
The suspects are Mr. Suleman Samila, a gate man from Niger Republic and Chinedu Joseph alias Topic from Abia State who was described as the prime suspect. Others are Chigozie Keneth, a Computer Science Student of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Anayo, Michael Uzochukwu and Miss Kosisochukwu, a Secondary School student all from Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo State.
