A kidnap suspect, who gave his name as Collins Chime, from Obinagu Udi in Enugu State yesterday told journalists how he received N65,000 as his own share from a N500,000 ransom paid by his uncle.
Collins, who was paraded alongside his collaborators confessed that “we were to kidnap a rich woman but we missed her; so, I suggested that we kidnap my uncle since we missed our initial target.”
“After we kidnapped him, we received N500,000 as ransom, out of which our leader (still at large) gave me N65,000.”
While pleading for mercy he said “I have never involved myself in this kind of thing; please beg them not to kill me; let them keep me in prison; I’ll stay there and work for government.”
Other members of the smashed kidnap syndicate include Nonso Onyebuchi of Obeagu Awgu, who is the leader of the gang, and Chukwudi Azemene of Umuoduma Aba, Abia state.
They had kidnapped one Elder Chime Edwin, a UK returnee of Obinagu Udi on 2nd April, 2016 at his house, along the same address, and whisked him off in a Volkswagen Audi car with Registration No. DWK 929 PP, which they had earlier robbed from the owner at Umunede, Delta State.
Parading the suspects alongside others before newsmen, the Enugu State commissioner of police, Nwodibo Ekechukwu, said the first syndicate, Etim Amos, of Abiakpo Ibo road, Ikot-Ekpene, masterminded the kidnapping of Barr. John Abugu, at G.R.A Enugu.
According to CP Ekechukwu, the syndicate was also behind the abduction of Mrs. Jane Ekweremadu at Agric Bank junction, Independence Layout, Enugu, as well as Mr. Brooks Okwara at the same area and Mrs. Sandra Onu, along with her Honda CRV car, Registration No. Lagos JJJ 447 CL at New Haven area of the state.
He disclosed that the command, in a carefully-planned operation ambushed the gang at a point along Itu-Calabar road, during which other members of the syndicate tried to escape.
The commissioner stated that the gang leader, Etim Amos, who had been posing as a soldier with an Army cap, which he usually placed on the dashboard to deceive people, was gunned down alongside another gang member, one Otunre Nse.
He further explained that the Honda CRV belonging to Mrs. Sandra Onu, in which she was abducted was recovered from them.
Also recovered are a gun, the handsets of the victims, fake Army ID card, bearing Corporal Etim Henry Amos.
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