The Enugu State command of the Nigeria Police Force has arrested some alleged kidnappers at their various hideouts in Lagos and 9th Mile, Enugu State.
The police said they were arrested after a discrete study through its operatives in the Anti-Kidnap Unit of the command.
It was gathered that the suspects identified as Ekene Nwankwo from Okposi in Ebonyi state who stays in Fijiso, Epe, Lagos and 9th Mile corner respectively, Emeka Igwe from Awka Etiti as well as Chidi Agu allegedly conspired with one Ebuka from Ameke Ngwo in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu state and abducted a victim who was returning from an event.
The victim identified as one Ekene Okonkwo from Affa in Udi Local Government Area, was kidnapped at the Affa Road on 21st Novemner, 2015 as he was returning from a traditional marriage with his vehicle.
Police said the victim was thereafter taken to a nearby bush by old Nsukka Abor Road, 9th Mile, Enugu where they tied his hands and legs with rope and demanded for the sum of N10 million as ransom from the victim’s relations.
“They also denied him food and water for seven days after beating him while in captivity,” the police said.
The victim was said to have died inside the bush after the level of maltreatment he received.
The police said the suspects who were with the victim, on noticing that their victim has died, abandoned the corpse and fled to an unknown destination.
“Operatives of the Anti Kidnapping Unit of the command in their investigations, launched attack on the suspects at their hideout in 9th Mile and Lagos respectively which left the suspects fatally injured during a shoot out that ensued.
“According to one of the suspects Ekene Nwakwo, it was their burning search to make quick money that landed them in the trouble as they variously contacted a native doctor for money making and the native doctor will always tell them to get some money to buy things for rituals.
Since they were interested but lacked the money, they decided to kidnap their victim, who was returning at 7pm.
While he got to Affa Road, near 9th Mile, Ebuka was said to have communicated with the others that the victim was approaching.
They then blocked the road and picked up their victim at gunpoint to the bush abandoning his Tundra truck by the road.
The suspect further revealed that the victim later died after few days of holding him captive.
Chidi Agu, another suspect, confirmed that their victims would not have died if not that Ekene tied him seriously to avoid attacking them back or overpowering them.
He attributed his membership of the gang to frustrations and pleaded for forgiveness even as he regretted that their victim died.
Another suspect, Emeka Igwe, did not waste time to disclose that they are four in number that planned the act in order to raise money.
He mentioned himself, Ekene Nwankwo, the gang leader, Chidi Agu and Ebuka now at large.
He however regretted the action and prayed for forgiveness while attributing the circumstance that led them into the mess as unfortunate.
Meanwhile, the police says it has launched full scale investigations into the incident just as the dead body of the victim has been recovered inside the bush by the operatives and deposited at a nearby hospital for necessary action.
