Posted by By VAL OKARA, Owerri on
The police in Imo State, in collaboration with their counterparts in Lagos, have recorded a feat by cleverly rescuing a 12-year-old boy, who was snatched by kidnappers.
The police in Imo State, in collaboration with their counterparts in Lagos, have recorded a feat by cleverly rescuing a 12-year-old boy, who was snatched by kidnappers.
The kidnappers had demanded N1 million ransome from the father of the boy, who lives abroad. But instead of getting the money, they got a surprise raid by the police, leading to the arrest of a member of the gang.
Daily Sun gathered that 12-year-old Master Nduka Ogene, son of Rev & Mrs. Chidi Ogene from Umunna Orlu, Imo State, had been kidnapped on September 5, 2004 on Awo Idemili Road, Imo State. Gunmen were said to have double-crossed the vehicles of the Ogenes, snatching Nduka in the process. The lad was said to have been taken to Lagos and Ghana, from where the kidnappers telephoned his father demanding N1 million ransome.
Narrating his ordeal to Daily Sun, little Nduka said on that fateful day, some armed men blocked their vehicle with a car and ordered all the occupants, including his mother and twin brother, out of the car and took him away. He said that he was brought to Lagos and handed over to one Mr. Duru, who later took him to a house where nobody lived. "He kept me in one room that nobody lived. Nobody stayed there. He bought anything that pleased him for me to eat," Nduka said.
Little Nduka alleged that he was also taken to Ghana where he and his custodian stayed for a month. According to him, he was not tortured by the suspects during his captivity but was asked to telephone his father to release money in exchange for his freedom.
"Whenever I telephone my father to release the money, he assured me that everything would be alright, that I should stop crying, that I would soon regain my freedom and join other members of the family."
Nduka's mother had reported the incident to the police against the kidnappers' advice. The police had told her to play along with the kidnappers. The breakthrough came when the kidnappers requested the transfer of N1 million to Ghana through Western Union Money Transfer. The boy's mother agreed to pay but demanded where her son would be picked up after the money transfer. The kidnappers made a terrible mistake by giving the address where Nduka was kept.
The police in Imo State had contacted their counterparts in Lagos and collectively stormed No 29 Burma Road, Apapa, Lagos on December 10, 2004. The kidnapped boy was rescued, while the police arrested one of the suspects as well as impounded a Toyota Prieva car.
Recalling how her son was kidnapped, Mrs. Ogene said that on the fateful day armed men blocked their vehicle and ordered everybody out of the car.
"A group of armed men in their vehicle blocked our own. They told us that if we moved we would be shot. We were afraid. I asked them what they wanted. They shouted me down and even beat me up. They ordered everybody out of the vehicle and took one of my twin sons into their vehicle and drove away."
She confirmed that the kidnappers demanded a ransome of N1 million through Western Union Money Transfer in Ghana before her son could be released to them, revealing that she said the three months her son was in their hands were traumatic she revealed that her husband once threatened to divorce her if their son was not brought back alive.
"It got to an extent my husband threatened to divorce me if I did not get back his son alive," she said.
Mrs. Ogene revealed that the said Mr. Duru, who masterminded the kidnap of her son, had visited their home the day the boy was kidnapped with 11 people he claimed were policemen who would investigate the kidnap.
Police spokesman, Mr. Chike Nwabunwa, confirmed the incident and said that the prime suspect, Mr. Duru had been declared wanted.