Monarch, Wife, Son In Police Net Over Kidnapping

The traditional ruler of Oruku Autonomous Community in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu state, HRH Igwe Cornelius Nomeh,  his wife and son, Ngozi Nomeh and John Odih, have been paraded by the state Police Command  over their alleged involvement in the abduction of a 20 year old medical student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

Briefing newsmen shortly after parading the three suspects alongside five others who were also involved in the abduction of the student, Miss Ifeoma Azubuike, the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohamed Zerewa described the arrest of the suspects as a “big catch for the police”.

According to him, the kidnappers were arrested last week at the palace of the Igwe Nomeh where they kept their victim.

According to him, the suspects had insisted that they would be given a ransom of N100 million before they would release  their victim but luck ran out on them, when men of the dreaded Special Anti Robbery Squad{SARS}swooped on them and rescued Miss Azubuike without any payment of ransom.

His words:  “Gentlemen of the press, you can now see the involvement of some of our traditional rulers in kidnapping and armed robbery. A situation like the one you are seeing now accounts for absolute difficulty in getting rid of this cankerworm.”

Recently, he explained, “Kidnapping seems to have resurfaced in the state after two ladies were allegedly kidnapped and police, in keeping with its faith in the state, rose to its constitutional responsibility in which a traditional ruler, the wife and son, as well as other suspects which the command has presented to you today were arrested while their victims, rescued without payment of any ransom”, he stressed.

Zerewa further disclosed that within the first quarter of this year, his command had recorded a total of 21 kidnapping cases, adding that the command has so far “arrested and charged to court 35 suspects currently on remand in the prison, while a total number of 14 victims were rescued without ransom paid.”

Also paraded were armed robbery and murder suspects, as well as Arinze Iloegbu and Okorie Ndubuisi who reportedly demanded a ransom of N10 million after abducting one Benedeth Loveth Uka from Mgbowo, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State. They were arrested by the police following a tip off, and the police commissioner assured that the suspects would be charged to court soon.

Speaking to reporters later, Igwe Cornelius Nomeh said he was innocent, insisting that his son was old enough to give account of his life.

He disclosed that he was receiving treatment at a hospital in Enugu after he was released from the Enugu Prison following his community’s clash with another community, Umuode when the abduction took place.

He stated that the police arrested him despite the fact that he was not in his community when the victim of the abduction was brought into his palace.

Also defending herself, the Igwe’s wife said she was not aware that Miss Azubuike was brought into the palace, adding   “ I go to the farm daily, I was not aware that she was kept in the palace.”