By Dr Innocent Chidumebi Okonkwo.
8th June, 2024.
A victim of kidnapping, whose SUV RX 330 was recovered during military face off with the kidnappers that allegedly camped in Igbariam -Achala farm, Mr Jude Ejiogwu an indigene of Ayamelum in Anambra State has narrated his experience when he was kidnapped at Otoko Junction in Awkuzu Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The victim told OMT reporters today, the 8th of June 2024 that four suspected kidn
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appers blocked his vehicle on May 2024 on his way to a hotel where he lodged in Awkuzu.
According to him, he was driving his car when the kidnappers, who were armed with AK-47 rifles, waylayed him.
Ejiogwu said he was not sure if they targeted him, considering that throughout his 7 days in their camp, they were busy bringing more victims every night.
"When I stoped my car, four of them dragged me to the back seat and subsequently guided me to the bush", he said.
“They had to drag me, and in the process, I sustained some wounds on my legs".
The victim said motorists plying the road could not wait to help him. However, he said the kidnappers communicated in Ebonyi dialect except one who was hiding his identity with Omabala dialect.
He said the kidnappers usually divide themselves into two during operations. Two persons usually move ahead of others with motorcycle and communicate constantly about the condition of the roads to the second group who are usually more armed and also move with vehicle.
He stated further that the camp is suspected to be located around Oye farm and the residents of the communities like Nando, Igbariam and Achala should be aware of the existence of such camp.
According to him, he spent seven days with the kidnappers because they initially asked for N100 million as ransom. He said he transferred 35 million from his account to their Opay account and when he exhausted his limit, his account officer, one Mr Pius Nchekeube was notified by his relative to block his Fidelity Bank account to stop further transactions and he did so and it became difficult for him to transfer more money to them.
Ejiogwu said he overheard the kidnappers making calls of building materials for their houses but was not sure if they were extravagant because throughout his stay with them, he did not see them eat good food apart from indomie noodles and junk foods.
"I was surprised to see my car in OMT news where the military killed one of the kidnappers and because I live in far away Lagos, I sent someone in Anambra to visit police station and he confirmed that apart from the plate number they changed that everything in the car was intact".
He appealed to the government at all levels to find a lasting solution to the menace of kidnapping on Nigerian roads and added that it won't be difficult to trace the account they used in collecting ransom from him but the frustration from the law enforcement agencies could not allow him to continue sponsoring the investigation.