By  Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI—Imo State Command of the State Security Service (SSS) has arrested three persons, who claim to be students of Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, while they were negotiating for money to assassinate a lady.

The State Director of SSS, Mr. Abudu Salami, gave the names of the suspects as Chibuike Diala from Ofekata, Orodo, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, and Emmanuel Chinonso Ikedinobi and Chukwudi Ikedinobi from Umuakaba, Uli, Anambra State.

“On May 28, 2009, a pre-degree student of IMSU was kidnapped and held hostage at Umuerem Village in Mbaitoli Local Government Area.

Following his miraculous escape, the kidnappers vanished into thin air, leading to a manhunt for them by the Imo State Command of the SSS”, Salami said.

He disclosed that the suspects, who have confessed to being cult members, have given useful information on cultism network in IMSU, which is helping the Command to tackle the menace in the institution.

Salami further said that the growing cases of kidnapping in the state has become very worrisome to his command, adding that students, who are  supposed to be in the institution of higher learning have decided to convert themselves into kidnappers and hired assassins.