Police rescue octogenarian from kidnappers in Imo

By CHIDI NKWOPARA

OWERRI—Three persons allegedly involved in the recent kidnap of 82-year-old Mrs. Christiana Okere are currently telling operatives of Imo State Police what they knew about the crime.

Vanguard gathered that the octogenarian was picked up from her country home, Umuohie Ngor in Ngor Okpala local council area of Imo State on December 18, 2012, by four young men and later taken to Igwuruta, Rivers State.

A family source told Vanguard that “not long after, the kidnappers got in touch with family and demanded to be paid N20 million ransom for her release.”

However, the fortune of the kidnappers changed when on December 28, 2012, one of them was apprehended by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of Imo Police Command.

When contacted yesterday for comments, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Vitalis Onugu, confirmed the story, adding that the suspect confessed to the crime and later led policemen to their hideout at Igwuruta where the woman was kept in captivity.

“She was kept in a building located in the bush. On sighting the police, the hoodlums abandoned the woman and scampered into safety.

““She was in a stable condition when the police effected her release. So far, two other suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime,” Onugu recounted.

In her reaction, the freed octogenarian thanked God and Imo State Police Command for quickly coming to the aid of the family, adding that throughout her captivity, she never lost hope in God.