The University of Nigeria, Nsukka students’ kidnappers as well as other passengers have been sought after by the Enugu State Police Command.
It added that three victims had been rescued and nine suspected kidnappers had been detained in connection with two more kidnapping instances.
On Sunday night, a number of students and passengers headed to Nsukka were apparently kidnapped along the Nike-Opi-Nsukka road. The exact number of abducted people has not yet been determined.
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According to accounts, the students were returning to campus after the start of classes following an eight-month strike by academics at public colleges across the nation.
Unverified reports said that the kidnappers are asking the parents of the victims for N300 million as ransom.
However, the command claimed that it had sent security resources to the scene in order to rescue the victims and apprehend the offenders in a statement released on Thursday by its spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe.
The statement was titled: “alleged abduction: Enugu CP orders adequate emplacement of security along Ugwuogo-Nike/Opi/Nsukka road, rescue of alleged abducted victims and arrest of culprits.”
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Ndukwe said that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Ammani, had on receipt of the report of the alleged attack and abduction of some travelers at Agu-Ekwegbe community axis of Ugwuogo-Nike/Opi/Nsukka highway, in the evening hours of October 23, 2022, ordered the maximum deployment of operational and intelligence resources of the command “to ensure adequate security on the said road, rescue unascertained number of persons allegedly abducted and arrest the hoodlums.”
“Consequently, the Commissioner has reassured users of the said road and the citizenry of the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensure that their security and safety are maximally maintained, while categorically stating that onslaught on unrepentant criminal elements in the State shall be sustained.”
Ndukwe did reveal, however, that on October 20, 2022, at around 2.30 pm, members of the command stationed at the Independence Layout Police Division detained three suspects in a kidnapping.
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At Nkwo in the Ugwuaji village of Enugu South LGA, he identified the suspects as Chidi Jobbison (m), 24, Emmanuel Ogbu (m), 25, and Ogochukwu Nweke (f), 17, and freed their abducted male victim.
He said their detention followed the operatives’ prompt action in response to reliable intelligence that the trio and other members of their gang had kidnapped the victim from his home while traveling in a minibus.
They reportedly took the victim to a bush in Ugwuaji and demanded N650,00.00 in ransom, through a PoS operator.
According to him, the Operatives were successful in putting a stop to them, arresting the suspects and seizing two (2) masks and a yellow Suzuki minibus with the registration number UKP 270 YP.
“Similarly, Police Operatives serving at Udenu Police Division of the Command, on 16/10/2022 at about 1.25 pm, promptly responded to a distress call and arrested six kidnapping suspects and rescued two of their victims, at Igbokwube Village, Amalla community in Udenu local government area.
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“The suspects include Okechi Chijioke (male) aged 29 and Ugwu Christiana (f) aged 24 (principal suspects), Ndidi Ekwueme (female) aged 27 (jujuist), Chinwe Okoro (female) aged 35 (ransom receiver), Nwabueze Friday (male) aged 26 (tricyclist) and Titus Ekeh (male) aged 70 (provider of accommodation used for keeping the kidnapped victims).
“Ongoing investigation reveals that the male principal suspect lured the victims through Facebook, with the promise of selling cheap clothes and bags to them. But instead, took them to the said location working with his cohorts, and obtained a combined ransom of N500,000.00 without releasing them, before they were apprehended and the victims rescued.”
One Dane gun, one imitation gun, a tricycle, a gas burner, an 8-inch Winco foam, four bags containing garment materials, and other incriminating items were recovered from them.
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The PPRO stated that following the completion of the investigation, the suspects would be arraigned in court.
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