By Vincent Ujumadu
AWKA—FOUR students of Imo State University, Owerri were yesterday paraded before newsmen in Awka by the men of the State Security Service (SSS) for allegedly kidnapping a four-year old boy, Sopuluchukwu Orji from his school at Awada near Onitsha last week. They were alleged to have also demanded the sum of N10 million ransom from the father of the boy, Mr. Cyril Orji.

Also arrested by the SSS were the teacher of Sopuluchukwu at Ideal Minds Foudation School , Awada, Miss Uju Agada and a female student of Imo State University, who was said to have purchased cloths and food for Sopuluchukwu while he was held hostage at one of the male hostels in the university.

Stephen Ajaraogu, a 300 level law student of the university, said to be the brain behind the kidnap, from a wealthy and royal family in Imo State, admitted to newsmen that he committed the offence, adding that he did it out of frustration because he wanted money to pay those he was owing after a failure business,  involving over N600,000.

Anambra State Director of SSS, Mr. Joseph Opatimehin handed over the rescued child to Governor Peter Obi, who in turn handed the boy over to his parents and immediately directed that the person who provided the information for the smashing of the gang should be paid the N2 million reward promised by him last week for anybody who provide useful information for the arrest of  kidnappers and robbers in the state.