The Enugu State command of the Nigeria Police on Tuesday gave gory details of how a kidnap victim, Ekene Okonkwo, was starved to death by his kidnappers who denied him food and water for 7 days.
The command explained that the kidnappers, whose names were given as Ekene Nwankwo from Okposi in Ebonyi State, Emeka Igwe from Awka Etiti, Chidi Agu and Ebuka from Enugu State were trailed to their hideouts after they allegedly kidnapped Ekene Okonkwo, who died in their hands last month.
According to the statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, the suspects had conspired and abducted their victim (now deceased) from Affa in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu, while he was returning from a traditional marriage in his vehicle on November 21.
“They took him to a nearby bush by old Nsukka Abor road 9th mile corner, Enugu, where they tied his hands and legs with rope and demanded for the sum of N10 naira ransom from his relations. They also denied him food and water for seven days after beating him while in captivity”, he said.
It was further gathered that their victim, Okonkwo had died inside the bush, while the suspects on noticing the sad development had abandoned his corpse and fled to an unknown destination.
He said that officers of the command had followed investigations since then and had within the week swooped on the suspects in their hideouts in 9th Mile and Lagos, during which some of the suspects were severally injured in a shoot-out that ensued.
Amaraizu said one of the suspects, Ekene Nwakwo, who confessed to the crime, said it was their burning search to make quick money that led them into the crime. He narrated that their victim was coming back from traditional marriage around 7pm at Affa road near 9th Mile “when Ebuka communicated them that the victim was approaching before they blocked the road and picked him up with their gun to the bush.”
He revealed that the victim later died after few days in captivity, adding that their victim would not have died “if Ekene had not tied him seriously to avoid attacking them back or overpowering them.” He attributed his membership of the gang to frustrations and pleaded for forgiveness, even as he regretted the death of the victim.
