A housewife in Delta State has allegedly stage managing her own kidnap in a desperate bid to obtain large sums of money from the unsuspecting husband who eventually coughed out N1.5 million as ransom in the process.
Already, the woman’s partner-in-crime, said to be a close relation of her husband who allegedly collected the ransom money for onward handing over to the phony kidnappers is already in police net for his alleged ignoble role in the matter.
State Police command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Celestina Kalu in a statement in Asaba Friday gave a vivid account of the incident.
According to her, “on 7/3/2014 one Obi Jude ‘m’ of behind Markvia House Ekete Inland Udu reported to Area Commander’s office Warri that in the early hours of the same date his wife, one Grace Obi ‘f’ was kidnapped along DSC express road by unknown hoodlums.
“Sequel to the report, the Police commenced investigation and advised the complainant (husband) to play along with the hoodlums who had agreed to accept N1.5m as ransom. Consequently, the sum of N1.5 was given to a close relation and confidant of the victim, one Ogonna Onu ‘m’ of No. 4 Ikukum Ogene Layout Ovwian and one Gift Erah ‘m’ by the complainant to deliver to the alleged kidnappers.
“The two went in a Toyota Highlander with Reg. No. SMK 370 AZ belonging to the victim to deliver the said ransom. The victim was released on 9/3/2014 supposedly after payment of the ransom.
“However”, the statement went on, “at the Area Commander’s office, the Area Commander ordered the search of the victim’s Highlander Jeep and surprisingly, the sum of N1, 189, 00.00 being part of the ransom money paid carefully concealed in the spare tyre compartment of the Jeep was recovered. As this was going on, Gift Erah ‘m’ and one Fred Akpvita ’m’ both tenants to the complainant, realising that the game was up, took to flight, while Ogonna Onu was arrested and he is currently undergoing investigation.
“Preliminary investigation has revealed that the purported kidnap was stage managed by the victim and the suspects to obtain money from the complainant while efforts are on to arrest the fleeing suspects”, the statement added.
According to him, “Boko Haram grows bolder and bolder everyday”, warning that “those who think that they are safe” should have a rethink as “nowhere is safe in Nigeria anymore.”
He added that the kind of carnage being rocked by Fulani Herdsmen across the country now is unprecedented, to the extent that people have now gotten used to bad news.
Emmanuel strongly called on Christian faithful to come together to help those that were in the need of assistance, insisting “we can no longer fold our hands, our houses are on fire, may God help us.”
The Women Leader of Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) Women Fellowship, Mrs Naomi Noma, while recounting their ordeals noted that women and children were mostly hit by the violence.
She called on government to rise up to the challenge and find a pragmatic solution to the insurgency. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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NE why the mis-up . This is stupid journalism.
ReplyDeleteWhen are we going to be professional in Nigeria. Even the new media? Na wa
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