SSS Nabs 8 Kidnap Suspects In Anambra

The Director of the State
Security Services (SSS) in Anambra State, Mr Alex Okeiyi, said that the services have arrested eight suspects in connection with recent kidnappings in the state.
Okeiyi told a news conference in Awka last Wednesday that the first set of four suspects were nabbed in connection with the abduction of the 89-year-old late Mrs Adafor Madueke.
He recalled that the octogenarian was abducted on December 17, 2013 at her residence in Amaeku in Anaocha Local Government Area, adding that the woman was released in the early hours of December 24, 2013 after a ransom of N3 million was paid a day earlier near Obollo-Afor in Enugu State.
“She died about a week later, apparently as a result of her ordeal in the custody of the kidnappers,” the director said.
He said that investigation revealed that the kidnap was hatched by the victim’s grandson, one Kingsley Madueke, 24, with the assistance of a younger brother, Matthew Madueke.
“On payment of the ransom, the gang leader, Gabriel Nnaji, 25, took N2 million out and paid N200, 000 each to the accomplices,” Okeiyi said.
In the second case, Okeiyi also announced the arrest of four suspects who allegedly kidnapped Mr Leo Ilozumba, the Personal Assistant to the state’s Commissioner for Works, Mr Calistus Ilozumba.
Okeiyi, who named the suspects as Nnamdi Emelife, Emmanuel Nweke, Samuel Akpu and Peter Obiorah said they executed the kidnap on the 2013 Christmas eve and were paid N1 million ransom.
“Emelife confessed that his apartment at Ifite-Awka was used to keep the victim and three other victims kidnapped by the gang between December 23 and December 29, 2013. Akpu, who returned from South Africa early December, also confessed that he watched over the victim in Emelife’s house and was rewarded with N50,000″, he said.
He said phones and other items were recovered from the suspects, adding that they would be handed over to the police for prosecution.
The director appealed to criminally-minded persons in the state to have a change of mind or face the wrath of the law.

Igwe Tony Ojukwu (middle) of Ogui Nike in Enugu State with Chief of Staff, Enugu Government House, Mrs Ifeoma Nwobodo (5th left) and some local government chairmen in Enugu during their courtesy visit to the Igwe in Enugu, recently. Photo: NAN