By Kelechi Ugo
The usual say, “wonders shall never end” has played itself yesterday at Imo State police command premises during the parade of suspected kidnappers who were in connection of the kidnap of one Mr Chisom John Kennedy Igbokwe of Spibat Road, Akwakuma in Owerri North Council Area of Imo State in order to extort money from the grandfather of the victim.
Parading the suspects, the commissioner of police, Imo State command, CP Chris Okey Ezike disclosed that the operatives of the command anti-kidnapping unit were on 23rd October, 2017 acted on information leading to the arrest of Solomon Chinonso ‘M’ 18 years of No 2B SPIBAT Road Akwakuma, Nnadi Chijoke ‘M’ 17 years of No 3 SPIBAT Road of the same Akwakuma Nwaotu Michael ‘M’ 20 years of Ogbosisi Umuapeala Mbieri in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State alongside their victim, Chisom John Kennedy Igbokwe who allegedly wanted to extort money (ransom) from his grandfather.
According to the commissioner of police, the suspect has made useful statements confessing that they conspired to fake the kidnap in order to collect ransom from his grandfather.
Similarly, the police command also parade suspected armed robbery attact at Diamond Hotel located at Okpuala Naze in Owerri North council Area of Imo State. The suspected gang includes Ikechukwu Ogbonna ‘m’ 34 years of Mbube East Oyoja in Cross River State, Martins Iheohakara ‘m’of Mgboroko Umukabi Ehime Mbano LGA of Imo State, Chinonye Ajaero ‘m’ 35 yrs of Uhaha Oboche in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State, and Uche Oguike ‘m’ 209 yrs of Umuezeala Umundugba in Isu LGA of Imo State.
According to the police, items recovered from them were one locally made pistol, eight assorted handsets robbed from the customers, one plasma TV, laptop belonging to Diamond Hotel and three Iron diggers.
Meanwhile,the watchful eyes of Imo State police command have apprehended the following suspects; (1). Obinna Eze ‘m’ 31 years (2). Oluchi Chibuike ‘F’ 32 years (3) Vitalis Lumanze ‘m’ 40 years (4) Nkiru Nwanedu ‘F’ 45 years (5) Chinyere Nwudu ‘F’ 34years and (6) Jacinta Amadi ‘F’ 45 years for purportedly selling 2 kids at the rate of one million, one hundred thousand naira only (N1,100,000).
The aforementioned suspects according to the commissioner of police, CP Chris Ezeike while briefing newsmen, at the police Headquarters Owerri yesterday were connected to armed robbery attempted murder and trafficking in human persons, while the victims were; Abigail Ukah ‘f’ 34 years, Francis Nwachukwu ‘m’ 5 years and Chinaza Nwachukwu ‘m’ 2 years.
It was narrated that on August 29, 2017, a cousin to Abigail Ukah, Oluchi Chibuike came to Uzoagba Ikeduru in company of one Obinna Eze whom Oluchi told her cousin sister Abigail was her intended husband.
Never was it known to Abigail that her supposed cousin Oluchi had an intention already planned with her friend Obinna to walay/Kidnap them on the way.
According to the police, their mission was to take Abigail with her two children, Francis and Chinazaekpere to visit Obinna’s house at Afara Mbaitoli LGA. Obinna therefore carried them on his motorcycle at about 12pm to his house.
At about 6pm, unknown to the victim that Obinna and Oluchi have concluded plans to attack her and fake away her children. It was said that Obinna and Oluchi hired one vitalis Lumanze and Chinatu AKA “Salasco” whom they paid the sum of one hundred and sixty thousand naira (N160,000) to attack her on their way back to Uzoagba.
Lo and behold, on approaching a lonely bush path at about 1900 hrs of some date along Amantuta Mbieri, the two hired men surfaced and attacked the victim with several matchet cuts all over her body, dragged her and dumped her inside the bush believing that she has died, while Obinna and Oluchi took the two children back to Obinna’s house at Afara Mbaitoli where they slept.
Furthermore, in the early morning of 30th August 2017, the two children were taken to Enugu State and were sold to one Mrs Nkiru Nwanedu ‘f’ of Egwedi Njaba at the cost of N1, 100,000 to balance on a later date. Nkiru Nwanedu 45 years old later resold the children to Mrs Jacinta Amadi ‘f’ 45 years of Egbede in Udi LGA, Enugu State who took custody of the two children from 309th August 20917 till 27th October 20917 when they were arrested from their various hideouts at Enugu State and the two children recovered.
Similarly, the police disclosed that both Obinna Eze and Nkiru Nwanedu are ex-convicts in a similar case and both came to know each other while they were at Okigwe Prisons. The syndicate has been smashed remaining only Chinatu known as Salasco who is still at large.
