The Abia State Police Command on Thursday paraded two suspected kidnappers who allegedly abducted one Gold Njoku, kidnapped while evangelising.The suspect, Sunday Onyekwere, 43, is a native of Umuokahia Obingwa, and Samuel Ahuchaogu, 40, is from Umuogele Umuocham in Osisioma area of the state. The two allegedly abducted the victim at Okpula Ngwa in Obingwa while preaching the gospel of Christ.
According to the Commissioner of Police, Joshak Habila, who paraded the suspects at the Central Police Station, Umuahia, the incident occurred on Wednesday March 25.
Police said upon a tip-off, detectives of Anti- Kidnap Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department on patrol within the area, in conjunction with Isiala Ngwa North Patrol team, swung into action and arrested the suspects.
He said the victim, aged 55, was also rescued unhurt in a bush at Umuike village, Osisioma while a Mercedes Benz 230 car, with registration number DU 240 AAA, was also recovered.
Police said efforts were being intensified to apprehend other members of the gang.
In an interview with The PUNCH, one of the suspects, Ahuchaogu, said he received a telephone call from his friend, Onyekwere, asking him “to come over and that a woman had been brought.”
He said that as they were trying to escape, the car they were driving in suddenly developed a fault, and as he was about to blame his partner in crime, the police swept on them.
But in his own account, Onyekwere, who sounded incoherent, said he was arrested when he went to collect concoction from the native doctor. He said the native doctor was preparing charms that would help preserve the life of his third wife.
He said his first wife died during a child-birth and the second one died mysteriously. He lamented further that the third one has been suffering from frequent illness.
He said he had gone over to the house of the native doctor to collect the concoction when he was arrested by the police, denying any involvement in the crime.
