Nigeria Content Online

The Police in Imo
State have arrested five suspected kidnappers who allegedly abducted a
six-year-old boy and demanded a N5 million ransom from his family.

The Deputy
Commissioner of Police (DCP), Gwary Usman, who paraded the suspects in
Owerri, alleged that the suspects abducted Chinaza Onyeike in front of
his home at Obilubi in Mbaitoli Local Government Area on July 24 at
gunpoint.

He said that “the
hoodlums forced the victim into their 406 Peugeot car and drove off to
an unknown destination.” Mr. Usman also said that from their hideout,
the suspects demanded a N5 million ransom from the parents of the boy
and that the police later arrested a member of the gang, who assisted
the Police with information that led to the rescue of the boy.

According to him, the suspect led operatives to Umuno Okwu Ikeduru, where the victim was being locked up in a house.

He said the “victim
was safely rescued, the vehicle used for the kidnap was equally
recovered’’ and the suspect made more confessions that led to the
arrest of other gang members.

The suspects included two brothers aged 25 and 27, as well as another 25-year-old and a 24-year-old man.

The police further
alleged that the gang, on May 11, kidnapped one Peace Iheanacho, who
was released after the payment of N100, 000.

The DCP also said that the police arrested another 24-year-old man over his involvement in many kidnap cases around the state.

He used the occasion to restate the commitment of the Police Command to check crime, especially kidnapping, in the state.

He expressed happiness that the new strategy adopted to improve the security situation was yielding positive results.

“The fight against
kidnapping in the state is now being fought with vigour, we need the
members of the community to join us,” he said.

NAN