By Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI—Imo State Police Command has successfully rescued 6-year-old Chinazaekpere Onyike and arrested four of the five hoodlums that kidnapped him on July 24, 2010.

The other arrested suspects were identified as Emmanuel Nzem from Amauzari, Isiala Mbano, Anderson Ibeh and Lazarus Ibeh, who are natives of Okwu Ikeduru.

Narrating the boy’s ordeal to journalists, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Mr. Gwari A. Usman, said the kidnappers, who operated in a dark blue Peugeot 406 saloon car, with plate number, Abia AE 453 MBL, picked their victim in front of his parent’s residence at Obilubi, Mbieri.

Demanded N5m ransom

“The said hoodlums forced the victim into their vehicle and headed to unknown destination, from where they demanded a ransom of N5 million,” the DCP said.

Mr. Usman also said that following credible information, one Ikechukwu Hilary, from Amauzari, Isiala Mbano local council area, was arrested after a failed attempt to escape when he sighted the police team.

“The said Ikechukwu led police operatives to Okwu Ikeduru where the victim was incarcerated in the home of one Vitus Ibeh, who fled on sighting the police team. The vehicle used in the kidnap was equally recovered,” Usman said.

The DCP also recalled that the gang was responsible for the kidnap of Peace Ihenacho on May 11, 2010, and only released her June 1, 2010, after a ransom of N100,000 was paid.

In a similar development, the Command also arrested one Christian Obinna Nwosu, alias Ohio, from Ohii, Owerri West local council area, for his alleged complicity in series of kidnapping in the state.

“Obinna confessed to have participated in the kidnap of Mrs. Cecilia Nwagwu from Obowo and Rev. Ignatius Uzoma from Orogwe, Owerri West LGA,” Usman said.

He renewed the Command’s passionate appeal to the citizenry to assist security agencies in eliminating crime and criminals in the society, adding that unless credible information was passed on to the police, the hoodlums would continue to operate uninhibited.