Kidnappers in the university town of Nsukka in Enugu state seem not in a hurry to dump their filthy lucre despite the efforts of the state Police Command to run them out of town. Apparently calling the bluff of law enforcement agents and playing the lords of the town and its environs, the hoodlums have formed an association.
The body known as Association of Kidnappers of Nsukka (AKN) made its debut in the town recently. Checks by Sunday Sun reporter revealed that although it operates in secrecy, the group has started pasting notices on building walls ordering residents to pay huge ransoms or get ready to be attacked.
A resident, Ekene Ugwu, said they pasted one of such notices in the neighbourhood around Ibagwa road and people were panicky. He said that some residents including lawyers in the area have notified the police and taken precautionary security measures. But the Enugu State police command has told residents to go about their daily businesses as the police were handling the situation.
The police spokesman, Ebere Amaraizu told Sunday Sun on phone that the police had picked the telephone numbers dropped by the author of the letters in various homes, for further investigation. Meanwhile, five persons suspected to be the masterminds of kidnappings in Nsukka zone have been arrested. They were identified as Obinna Nnonyelum a.k.a Biggy, Ikechukwu Jude Ezeah alias Alhaji, Jonas Eke, Kelechi Udagha and Ifeanyi Hyginus Ede. The first suspect, Obinna was allleged to have told his police interrogators that he hails from Amawbia in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State and that his first criminal outing was the kidnap of a woman from Obollo Afor
. Though he said he could not remember the date of the kidnap, the suspect allegedly told the police that he and those he identified as Sky B who was their driver, Gago, Alhaji and Jonas alias Pajoe, took part in the crime. He said that the N1.5 million paid as ransom was collected at Umuokpu Awka in Anambra state and that he made the phone calls and gave directives until it was collected. Obinna was also said to have confessed that the gang kidnapped Rev. Fr. Chijioke Amoke, a Catholic priest in Nsukka Diocese and a herbalist, Rowland Iyida alias Ojenamuo on November 2, 2011. The herbalist and a police corporal, Sunday Elisha, attached to Ogrute police station, later died while the kidnappers were escaping with their victims. Police sources told Sunday Sun that the suspects would soon be charged to court.
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