By Ikeugonna Eleke
Three men suspected to be kidnappers have rejected a N9, 000 ransom offered them by a poor woman in Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, in exchange for her husband, Mr Chikodili.
Fides gathered from a source who claims to be in the know that the kidnappers broke into the residence of the couple at No. 65 Nwokedi Street, and took Chikodili.
The source said Chikodili’s wife, whose name was not immediately ascertained, pleaded for his release, offering to pay the sum of N9, 000 for his release, but was turned down by the kidnappers.
‘They rejected the money and took her husband away, leaving her crying,’ the source said.
Luck however ran out on the gang as they took Chikodili to a forest in the hope of keeping him longer and pressing the family to pay a higher ransom when they were rounded up by members of the community’s vigilante.
Leader of the vigilante group, Mr. Okpala Victor, confirmed the incident, saying the suspects had been arrested.
He said the suspects were apprehended inside the bush following a tip-off. ‘The vigilante group stormed the bush, freed the victim and arrested the three-man gang, and they have been handed over to the police,’ she said, disclosing that the Police had assured us they would be charged to court immediately.
The President General of the community, Edwin Emesinwa, who corroborated the arrest, applauded the vigilante for the feat, describing the security outfit as the best in the state.
He said, ‘Since my assumption of office about a year now the community sleeps with two eyes closed. Those saying criminals have taken over the communitry are the criminals themselves.’
Efforts to reach the state police command’s public relations officer, SP Haruna Mohammed, were unsuccessful, as his telephone line remained unreachable.
