BY CHIDI NKWOPARA
OWERRI— NINE per-sons, including a supposed traditional ruler (names withheld) from one of the autonomous communities in Owerri North local council area are facing inquisition for their alleged involvement in a kidnap case.
Vanguard gathered that the alleged kidnapping being investigated occurred about March 9, 2013, in which the victim, Mr. Uchechi Nlemadim, a car dealer in Owerri, was injured in the process.
It was equally gathered that Nlemadim lost N950,000, which was the proceed from the sale of his Sports Utility Vehicle.
Narrating his ordeal to newsmen, Nlemadim said he was returning from where he went to collect some money at about 10.30 p.m when he was attacked and pushed into a waiting golden colour Toyota Corolla car.
“As God would have it, the villagers raised alarm and quickly contacted the Owerri North Police Division and they swung into action,” Nlemadim narrated.
He recalled that the hoodlums hit him hard on his neck and fled after removing all his personal effects, including cash in his possession.
He said: “The hoodlums hit me very hard on my neck. They removed all my personal effects, including cash. Honestly, I narrowly escaped death.”
All efforts made to reach the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mrs. Joy Elemoko, on the issue proved abortive as her phone was switched off.
A senior police officer in the Command, who did not want his name mentioned, however, said he “heard such a story” but could not give details.
Police arrest 3 over monarch’s kidnap
Meantime, a three-man gang of kidnappers allegedly involved in the kidnap of the traditional ruler of Njikoka Umulolo, Okigwe, Eze Joseph Aliebo, and and Anglican cleric, Rev. Barnabas Arinze, of Saint Michael’s Church, Amaozu Ikpaoji, Arondizuogu, have been arrested by the police.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Katsina, who disclosed this in a statement, gave the name of the ring leader as Sunday Ikechukwu Okparaeke (36) alias Nwamama, while the other suspects are 34-year-old Kingsley Henshaw and Prince Simeon Igwegbe, believed to be the son of a royal father, Eze Basil Igwegbe of Ogbogbo autonomous community, Okigwe local council area.
Some of the items recovered from the suspects included a Toyota Corolla car, Nissan Maxima car, Toyota 4-Runner Jeep and a Toyota RAV4 Jeep.
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