Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Police Operatives attached to the Nsukka Sector of the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad, have arrested four male suspects, who specialize in kidnapping.
A statement from the spokesperson of the Police command, Enugu State, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said the suspects were arrested for conspiracy, staged kidnapping, and defrauding the parents of one of them of ₦2,000,000.00, through a stage-managed kidnapping.
According to him, the suspects include Chidera Godwin Ako, aged 21, who orchestrated his own kidnap; Okechukwu Philip Chidalu, aged 19; Ifeanyi Ugwu, aged 20; and Ossai Chigozie, aged 35, recently released from the Nigerian Correctional Service Custodial Centre.
Ndukwe further informed that a locally made single-barrel gun and two live cartridges were recovered from the suspects.
“Chidera was reported missing on May 4, 2025; subsequently on May 21, 2025, his accomplices used his phone to demand a ₦10,000,000.00 ransom from his parents, sending a video of him bound, appearing beaten, with the recovered gun pointed at him.
“The parents pleaded for his release and paid ₦1,500,000.00 into a provided account on May 22, 2025, but the suspects failed to release him.
“After an additional ₦500,000.00 payment, the police operatives swiftly arrested Chidera and his accomplices at a POS centre during an attempt to withdraw the funds,” he said.
The command said that the suspects have confessed to the crime and will be arraigned upon completion of investigations.
Ndukwe said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Bitrus Giwa, has described the criminal act as unfortunate.
“The CP has ordered further arrests of anyone linked to the crime.
“He urges the public to report suspected kidnappings immediately and avoid hasty ransom payments, emphasising that some cases, like this one, may be staged,” Ndukwe stated.
