Drama As 70-Year-Man Held For Housing Kidnapped Victims

Titus Ekeh, a 70-year-old man, has been the Enugu State Police Command.

The man was nabbed for providing accommodation used for keeping the kidnapped victims.

The command also arrested a 35-year-old woman, Chinwe Okoro, who worked with a kidnap syndicate as a ransom receiver.

The duo were among the nine suspected kidnappers arrested by the police in Igbokwube Village, Amalla community in Udenu Local Government Area and Nkwo Market Square in Ugwuaji community of Enugu South Local Government Area both in Enugu State.

Operatives also rescued three kidnapped victims from the two locations in the state, while a manhunt had been launched for the other members of the kidnap gangs.

The command’s spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said the syndicate in Udenu specialised in using social media to lure their victims with the promise of selling cheap clothes and bags to them.

“Other suspects arrested include Okechi Chijioke, 29; Ugwu Christiana, 24; Ndidi Ekwueme, 27 and Nwabueze Friday, 26.

At Nkwo, the police arrested three kidnapping suspects – Chidi Jobbison, 24; Emmanuel Ogbu, 25 and a 17-year-old.

A man kidnapped was rescued.

Ndukwe explained that the arrest followed a swift response by operatives after receiving credible information alleging the trio and other members of their gang had abducted the said victim from his house and taken him to a bush in Ugwuaji.

The abductors were said to have collected a ransom of N650,00.00.

According to him, the police clamped down on them, arrested the suspects and recovered a Suzuki minibus with number plate UKP 270 YP and two masks.

“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police has reassured residents of the command’s commitment to ensure security and safety are maintained while stating that onslaught on unrepentant criminal elements in the state shall be sustained,” he said.

The suspects, he said, would be arraigned in court after investigations have been concluded.