By  CHIDI NKWOPARA
OWERRI—A member of a three-man gang of kidnappers has been arrested, while a victim of the gang, a three-year-old boy, was set free by vigilant youths of Umuagwo, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.

Vanguard investigations revealed that the three-man gang allegedly picked  its victim from a community in Rivers State and headed to Umuagwo where they had intended to operate from.

It was also gathered that the hoodlums, on arrival at Umuagwo, started looking for their accomplice, who allegedly agreed to give them sanctuary in the sleepy rural community of Imo State.

A villager, who simply gave his name as Emeka, told Vanguard that it was in the process of looking for the previously arranged accommodation that the kidnappers ran into trouble.

“Some vigilant youths not only realized that they were strangers in the land but also suspected their movement. They equally sought to know what they were doing with the small boy”, the villager recounted.

Vanguard was equally told that as soon as the youths approached the hoodlums, they abandoned the little boy and scampered into a nearby bush for safety.

“Assisted by the community’s vigilante group, the angry youths went after the fleeing kidnappers and succeeded in arresting one of the hoodlums in the bush,” Emeka said.

Answering a question, Emeka said the youths quickly contacted the police, adding that the suspected kidnapper and the boy have been handed over to the police for further investigation.