Kidnappers on prowl in Anambra, abducts NYSC Coordinator, driver, monarch’s son, others, receive millions of naira as ransom

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Kidnappers have intensified their nefarious activities in Anambra State in recent weeks digging deep into Onitsha, the State commercial nerve centre hitherto considered a safe area in the State.
At least in the last two weeks these criminals have extended their unholy activities to Government officials, priests, traditional rulers and of course business men.

A competent source told us that in July this year, one Michael Ihekwerehu, alias Major was kidnapped at Ihiala by people believed to be members of Eastern Security Network (ESN) as he was heading to Umuahia, Abia State for his daughter’s wedding.

Our source said when their vehicle was stopped by these kidnappers they searched the manifest and saw major which the man filled as his name.
That was how they picked him, thinking he was a Major in Nigerian Army even though the man has never been connected with any security organisation even as a gate man.

His family was said to have paid N2 million to his abductors.

Mr. Christopher Friday, the Coordinator of National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), Akwa-Ibom State, with his driver, according to our source, were kidnapped at Mbosi, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State as they were returning to Uyo after visiting his family in Edo State.

The kidnappers who took his Hilux official vehicle are yet to release the man and his driver even when the family was said to have paid about N4m to them.

Last week, said our source, the son of a prominent traditional ruler in Anambra State fell victim of these criminals. He was said to have been kidnapped at Modebe by Oguta Road junction in Onitsha and he was yet to be released as at the time of posting this story.

In a similar vein, the son of a prominent businessman in Onitsha was kidnapped last week.

Although our source said the man has been released but without the abductors collecting about N7m from his handset, inflicted him with deep injury on his head and carted away his Lexus Jeep.

We also gathered that four people were sometimes in June this year kidnapped at Creek Road, Fegge in Onitsha, one of them was one Chizoba with his wife. They later dropped him after shooting him in the mouth which removed his teeth but they carried away his pregnant wife which they were said to have paid a whopping sum of N12m to the kidnappers before she was left off hook.

The Anambra State Police Command Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incidents however said most of the kidnappings mentioned did not occur simultaneously but one off the time, stressing that the Command have not been resting but doing a lot not only to secure the freedom if the victims alive but to also track down the perpetrators.

He said in a telephone interview: “I can boldly tell you that most of those incidents we have recorded success because some of them returned unhurt”.

Ikenga who is a Superintendent of Police (SP), said from the testimony of those they have arrested, they are working with them for more information.

“We have some suspects of some of the incidents you mentioned in the custody.But for now it is not for media consumption because we want to get detailed information from them to help us improve on our strategy” DSP Ikenga said.