By Chioma Gabriel

Arrested Kidnap suspects

Kidnapping used to be a highly lucrative business in the South Eastern part of Nigeria. About three years ago, the trend was so high that many wealthy South Easterners hardly travelled home and whenever they did, they tended to keep very low profile.

Kidnappers made as much as N750 million a year from ransom gotten from persons, including businessmen, industrialists, government personnel and they also made governance difficult for the South East governors, who began to witness mass exodus of people in their states and attendant economic set-back.

Despite the bulk money collected by the five states of the South East states, it was difficult for the zone to bring this outbreak to a halt. With massive unemployment that had enveloped the nation and with major economic, political and public service opportunities of the country at an all time low, the disenchanted unemployed graduates and school drop-outs of the region, took to a life of crime.

The situation was so bad that at least five persons were kidnapped every month with ransom ranging from N20m to N30m. Anambra and Imo states had the highest incidents of kidnapping, especially within the commercial axis of Onitsha and Nnewi. In Imo, the reign of terror by Osisikankwu drove the indigenes nuts.

At least, about 938 prominent sons and daughters of the South East zone were allegedly kidnapped between January 2008 and August 2012, according to a civil society group, Campaign for Democracy, CD, in August 2012. The CD chairman and secretary respectively in the South East, in a statement, said the kidnapped persons paid ransoms said to be valued at about N1.2 billion during the period.

Kidnappers reportedly collected substantial amounts from their victims, ranging from N5 million to N30 million per individual. During the said period, Anambra State was reported to have the highest incidence of kidnapping of 273 persons. Imo State was next with kidnapping incidence of 265 cases, while its residents lived in heightened fear. The next was Abia with 215 cases, followed by Enugu which recorded 95 and Ebonyi 90 within the same period.

But the governors of the states suddenly woke up and took on the problem with a practical approach of demolition of established structures or buildings used by kidnappers to advance their operations. In Anambra State, the approach worked as many buildings were destroyed during the era of Peter Obi as governor and continued with his successor, Willie Obiano and this approach significantly reduced the scourge in the state.

Over the years, the police across the South East states stepped up action in combating the menace. In this edition, South East Voice correspondents filed in reports across the states on the issue.

Combating the scourge of kidnapping: Increased cases in Abia

By Anayo Okoli & Ugochukwu Alaribe

UMUAHIA—THERE have been in the recent past, increased cases of kidnapping in Abia, especially in Aba and its environs. It would be recalled that few years back, kidnappers virtually took over the commercial city, forcing some many residents to relocate to other states. Worried by the rampaging activities of kidnappers, the then government of Theodore Orji in liaison with the Federal Government invited the military, who stormed the state and battled the hoodlums who were also into other violent crime, to a finish.

Normal life subsequently returned to Aba and environs. Those who fled returned and continued with their day to day business activities. But of recent, kidnapping and violent crimes seemed to have returned to the state. Though security operatives had foiled some  attempted attacks and kidnappings, many were successfully executed by the criminals, with some victims, fortunate to be alive, paying large sum of money to secure their freedom, while the unfortunate ones lost their lives.

Surprisingly, the state has a stringent law against kidnapping made by the State House of Assembly. The law permits the government to revoke and demolish structures on the property used for kidnapping. So the question the police and courts should answer is: How are some suspected kidnappers paraded in the past  being prosecuted?

Just last week, the State Police Command said that in collaboration with its counterpart in Imo State, it rescued one Ifeanyi John of Obigbo, Rivers State from the hands of kidnappers just as the command arrested a suspected member of a kidnapping gang in Aba which has been terrorizing residents of the city and its environs. The suspect, Michael Agbai and other members of his gang, attempted kidnapping one Chidozie Onwuka, but he escaped from them while they snatched his car.

However, worried by the rising spate of kidnapping, Abia State government had set up a special security operation centre to check kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes in the state and gave out the following telephone numbers to the public to assist with useful information- 08080897172, 0816981056, 09095687884, 08079260355, and 08163267708.

Governor Okezie  Ikpeazu had also launched a special security outfit comprising the police, army and Department of State Security, DSS, to help in the fight against crimes in the state, especially kidnapping and Abia people cannot wait to see security returned to the state, especially in Aba.

Combating the scourge of kidnapping: Obiano’s gains against kidnapping

By Vincent Ujumadu

Awka—ONE issue that engaged the attention of Governor Willie Obiano when he assumed office on March17, 2014, was the worrisome kidnapping incidents in various parts of the state. The governor immediately took measures to stem the tide and one of the measures he took was to continue the demolition of buildings belonging to confirmed kidnappers, which was started by his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi. He later set up a task force known as ‘Operation Kpochapu,’ which consists of the men of the various armed forces and the police.

So far, over 20 houses belonging to kidnappers had been demolished by the present administration and no fewer than 50 persons had been arrested. Several others also lost their lives, while attempting to kidnap people. Some of the suspected kidnappers arrested in the state in the past one year included four persons arrested at Oba in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, 15 others paraded by the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, Awkuzu, among many others.

Following orders from the governor, various property owned or used by kidnappers were confiscated. For instance, in May 2014 alone, the joint task force set up by the governor demolished three houses belonging to some dreaded kidnappers in the state. The houses demolished included a bungalow valued at N17 million at Aguleri, the governor’s hometown, under the supervision of the governor’s joint task force against kidnapping and other crimes.

The task force had continued to carry out similar exercises in many communities in the state. Recently, the task force demolished two property used by some kidnappers in Umuleri, Anambra East Local Government Area of the state, just as four other buildings, including a church, said to belong to suspected kidnappers, were demolished. They were all part of the state government’s continued clampdown on criminals in the state. Governor Obiano had also revoked the Certificates of Occupancy, C of Os, of the four buildings.

Some of the kidnappers often engaged the police in gun battle and in some cases, fell to the superior fire power of the police. When many of them found out that Anambra was no longer safe for their operation, they relocated to the neighbouring states, which was why the incidence of kidnapping reduced considerably.

Again, two buildings, including a church, belonging to a fake pastor, Ifeanyi Nwaezeagu, who was the General Overseer of Unchangeable God Ministries, Awkuzu, was demolished. Pastor Nwaezeagu was said to have generated millions of naira as kidnap proceeds and was involved in the kidnap of many wealthy Anambra men, including a priest.

The surprising thing was that the fake pastor was operating at Awkuzu which is the headquarters of SARS. In other words, he was operating under their nose without being detected. His confessional statements led to the exposure of members of his gang before Governor Obiano revoked his C of O, leading to demolition of his church and buildings.

One of his houses was marked Ozo Igbo Ndu (Life Saver) suspected to be his shrine, while the church was marked ‘’Unchangeable God,” with some Biblical quotations inscribed on the walls. An indigene of Awkuzu, Mr. Chukwuchebe Nweke, said Pastor Nwaezeagu started his church in 1999, and for a long time, nobody knew he was into kidnapping and robbery.

There was also an incident at Eziowelle in Idemili North Local Government Area, where in a bid to collect ransom, suspected kidnappers encountered the police and in the ensuing exchange of fire, five of them were gunned down and several others arrested.

Beating his chest on the success of the battle against kidnappers, Governor Obiano said that no kidnap attempt had been successful in the state in the last one year, adding  that those arrested were facing prosecution. He warned criminals to remain outside Anambra because the state “has zero tolerance for crime.”

Combating the scourge of kidnapping: Still a phenomenon in Ebonyi

By Peter Okutu

ABAKALIKI—THE incidence of kidnapping is not a regular phenomenon in Ebonyi State, often referred to as the most peaceful state within the South East geo-political zone. Most incidences of kidnapping that had been recorded in the state were usually politically motivated and nothing more as victims of such tragic episodes are often times released or killed by their captors. The usual trend is for politicians or business moguls to plot the kidnap of any individual who they feel poses a threat to their political ambition or success in a particular field of human endeavour.

Incidences of this social vice usually occur when electioneering campaigns are around the corner. Most interestingly, the local government areas in the state with high profile of incidences of kidnapping or with locations where victims are often kept include: Ezza North, Ishielu, Onicha, Edda, Afikpo North and Abakaliki.

Meanwhile, the state has records of prominent Ebonyi people who had been kidnapped and eventually lost their lives in the hands of their captors even as security agents had equally contributed to the rescue of some victims.

The former coordinator of Okposi Development Centre, Chief Ihebunadu Okorie was killed by his captors; former Senator Chris Nwankwo was equally kidnapped and rescued; former House of Assembly member and in-law to former Governor Sam Egwu, Hon. Kennedy was also kidnapped and released by his captors, and a host of others.

The most recent case of kidnapping, however, took place in Ivo Local Government Area of the state within the boundary communities between Ebonyi and Abia states. Recall that between July 14 and 15, the boundary communities of Iokpanta and Lokpaukwu of Abia State and Amata and Amaeze of Ivo LGA in Ebonyi State were reportedly in crisis following a land dispute that had lasted 50 years.

In a chat with  South East Voice, member representing Ivo state constituency, Hon. Oliver Osi accused the boundary communities of Abia State of masterminding the kidnap of one Chukwuma Akwa and a host of others from Ivo to Umuahia.

Residents of Abakaliki also added: “kidnapping is not a common criminal incident in Ebonyi. Its occurrence is not regular. It is usually politician against politician or businessman against businessman. Although, not all kidnap cases are investigated by police as some are often rumoured across the state.”

In every kidnap case that had taken place in the state, security agencies including the police, Department of State Security, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, among others, had always contributed their quota towards the release of the victims and arrests of the suspects.

Combating the scourge of kidnapping: Escalating cases in Imo State

By Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI—To say that the resurgence of criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery and car snatching, are giving Imo people sleepless nights, amounts to stating the obvious. Some kidnap victims may come out of their kidnappers’ dungeon to tell the sordid tale of their life, but some others die in the process. In some cases, the crime remains unresolved, even ad infinitum.

The case of Emenike Ihekwoaba, an architect and a principal secretary in the Deputy Governor’s Office, Owerri, is one of such unresolved matters. He was kidnapped on his way to his country home, Nkwerre. His whereabouts had remained uncertain till date. Similarly, a protocol officer in Government House, Owerri, Mr. Lazarus Anyanwu, was brutally murdered and carelessly dumped in a lonely bush, because he gave his abductors a stiff resistance. The two officers served the present administration.

After taking a hard look at the crime situation, a civil servant that did not want his name in print, said: “Dare-devil kidnappers appear to be having the upper hand in Imo State, as no day now passes without reports filtering in about kidnapping or armed robbery.” His feelings largely represents the thinking of most Imolites, as police record on reported cases can reveal. Indeed, the list of kidnap victims in the state is very long, but a brief recap of some of the incidents would suffice at this juncture.

The Head of the Reportorial Department of News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Imo State, Miss Chidi Opara, was kidnapped as she was driving into her residence in Uratta, Owerri North local council area of the state. Her Lexus sports utility vehicle is yet to be recovered from the rampaging hoodlums, long after she was released by her abductors.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. John Ihebereme, like Miss Opara, also counts himself fortunate because he passed through the lions’ den and returned alive to tell his  stories.

There had been cases of robbing and kidnapping of unfortunate commuters at ‘No Man’s Land,’ Ogbaku, along the ever busy Owerri-Onitsha expressway, and the gruesome murder of a serving Commissioner in Imo State House of Assembly Service Commission, Mr. Tobias Onyekele, and a chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, at Ugwu Orji, Owerri North local council area of the state.

Confirming the sordid incident to  South East Voice, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, said “the hoodlums wanted to kidnap the deceased at a point near the fly-over at Ugwu Orji.”

The story that made the rounds was that the woman was kidnapped by armed hoodlums, from the family’s residence at the Redemption Housing Estate, off Port Harcourt Road, Owerri.  It was also gathered that the hoodlums forced the woman into their waiting car and sped away to an unknown destination.

The Agbaso dynasty was equally not spared in this orgy of kidnapping when news of the kidnap of one of their own, a Pentecostal  pastor, Austen Agbaso, rent the air. A story that trailed the kidnap had it that Agbaso, who runs his church at Umuekpu Agwa, had finished his Sunday service and was mid-way into his usual deliverance and counselling, when the near tragic drama started.

It was also gathered that a young lady, whose identity could not be ascertained at press time, approached Pastor Agbaso and requested that she be delivered from undisclosed spiritual trauma. A villager, who spoke on strict grounds of anonymity, said that “not long after the lady joined the lot that were waiting for deliverance and counselling, some armed gangsters stormed the church premises.”

The villager equally disclosed that “on properly identifying their victim, the hoodlums seized Agbaso and whisked him away.” According to the villager, the hoodlums started firing indiscriminately into the air to scare people from mounting any form of resistance. “The firing rather attracted more people to the scene and they quickly decided to give the fleeing hoodlums a hot chase. This led to the capture of the lady that initially asked for deliverance and counselling,” the villager recounted.

South East Voice also gathered that the angry youths pounced on her and mid-way into her ordeal, she confessed that she was friend of one of the hoodlums. “She was given a telephone to call her boyfriend, a native of Umuomi, Agwa, and on arrival, the boy equally confirmed the lady’s claim. The youths were on the verge of dealing with the duo when security agents stormed the area,” the villager said.

Another female villager that simply identified herself as Ngozi, told  South East Voice that on being interrogated, the lady and her boyfriend rolled out the names of their accomplices said to be residing in Ogbaku and Orogwe. A chieftain of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Mr. Ben Anyanwu, was towards the end of June, kidnapped from his country home, Umuchoko, Egbelu Obube, Owerri North local council area of Imo State.

South East Voice gathered that Mr. Anyanwu, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Chrisben Nigeria Limited, a Lagos based clearing and forwarding company, was picked up at about 1.30 a.m. that eventful Sunday, by some armed hoodlums. It was also gathered from some villagers, who were at the scene of the incident that the gangsters scaled through the kidnapped victim’s perimeter fence with the aid of a ladder.

One of the villagers recalled that since the hoodlums could not gain entry into the building from the main door, after firing at it severally, they again used the ladder to gain access to the balcony. “From this point, they shot at the door key, ripped it open, entered the house and took away their hapless victim to an unknown destination,” the villager said.

Royal fathers and the clergy were not spared as criminals reportedly abducted Rev. Fr. Francis Ugoo Egbebu, the Parish Priest of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Umuola, Amaigbo, Nwangele local council area of Imo State. Strong feelers from the Catholic Diocese of Orlu, where Rev. Fr. Egbebu is serving, indicated that the ever cheerful priest was last seen driving out of the Parish that Monday morning.

In one of the kidnap cases affecting a royal family, the traditional rulers in Mbaise converged at Ahiara Junction to unleash curses on the person or persons involved in the recent kidnap of their colleague, Eze P. I. P.  Onu and his wife, Ugoeze Onu. Eze Onu, who is the traditional ruler of Nnemere Mpam in Ahiazu Mbaise and his wife were kidnapped by a gang of armed hoodlums about March 15, 2015, at the Chukwuma Nwaoha/Egbu Road Junction, Owerri.

While the royal father was released after some days on payment of unspecified ransom and dropped by his captors along the Ohii-Orogwe Road, Owerri West local council area of Imo State, his wife was still held captive. The Njaba Local Government Area Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Theo Ezeala, was similarly kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

Addressing newsmen during last year’s Democracy Day briefing, Governor Rochas Okorocha accused students of being the brains behind the high level of crime and criminality in the state. Chief Okorocha disclosed that “over 60 per cent of criminals in the state are students.”  Although the governor fell short of giving details of how he arrived at the figure, he was insistent that “the level of kidnapping and prostitution has gone down,” since his administration floated the free education programme.

“The level of kidnapping has dropped. The level of prostitution has gone down. Of the criminals in the state, 80 per cent of them are students and most of them do these things because of money. When you help them out with money, their needs drop,” Okorocha reasoned.

The police however, is not just watching helplessly as the hoodlums operate. Speaking exclusively to  South East Voice, the former Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Katsina, said the Command has virtually sacked hoodlums from the state. Giving the statistics of the Command’s successes, Mr. Katsina said: “A  total of 2,786 suspects were arrested in 2013.

We nabbed 649 for kidnapping, 503 for armed robbery, 261 for baby factory related matters, 486 for cultism, 55 for murder, 302 for electoral offences, 510 for drugs and allied offences and 20 for burglary and stealing. About 2,405 suspects are now facing their charges in courts of competent jurisdiction. We recovered 674 vehicles, 1,009 motorcycles/tricycles, 50 master keys, 422 arms, 3,325 ammunition, 529 telephone handsets and N28 million cash, as well as $2,700”.

Combating the scourge of kidnapping: Enugu residents heave sigh of relief  as Ugwuaji forest, den of kidnappers

By Austin Ogwuda

ENUGU—ALTHOUGH     there are still incidences of insecurity due to other criminal activities including kidnapping in Enugu State, the menace is no longer as alarming as it was in the past. Today, the residents can heave a sigh of relief as there is a considerable drop in the act of kidnapping in the state as the tide has been stemmed.

South East Voice  gathered that the police had adopted some proactive measures in fighting kidnapping in the state which was almost overwhelming them. One of such strategy is reliance on intelligence gathering and increased presence in flash point areas. That gave rise to the recent setting up of a police post along the Nsukka Opi Road where a lot of   havoc were done by the dare-Devil kidnappers on that particular axis, which is paying off.

State Police Public Relations Officer,   PPRO, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu   confirmed that early this month, operatives of the Anti- Kidnapping Unit raided a suspected kidnapers’ hideout on Ugwuogo Nsukka Opi Road linking Abor forest axis of Udi Enugu State.

According to him, the raid  was as a result of “intelligence gathered by the state police command. It was gathered that in the course of the raid of the hideout, operatives encountered a suspected notorious kidnap gang leading to exchange of gun duel which left three of the gang members fatally injured while some fled,” he said.

But before the stem, a Catholic Reverend Father, a local government official were among the numerous victims that fell into the kidnappers’ net on that Ugwuogo-Nike-Opi Road, noted as a notorious den of kidnappers.

PPRO Amaraizu on his part revealed that the command had been having serious encounters in the fight against kidnapping which he said led to the arrest of a notorious armed robbery and kidnapping kingpin towards the end of last year, nick named, Akidi, who was picked up at Udi Siding axis of Enugu metropolis following a tip-off.

“We have been battling to stem the new wave of kidnapping in the state, especially Nsukka axis,” said the PPRO. Recall that a former Enugu State Head of Service was kidnapped on the same new Opi Nsukka- Ugwuogo Nike- Enugu Road constructed by the immediate past governor  Sullivan Chime while Professor James Adichie, the father of award winning writer, Chimamanda Adichie was also a victim of kidnapping in the state.