I was shocked, says 76-yr-old man whose nephew organized his kidnap #GBB

By Ezeh Chibuoke

A septuagenarian, Mr Dominic Nwezeakpu, was rescued at the weekend in Lagos when the Nigerian Army bust a kidnap ring. The victim was later discovered to be a relation of the group. The Quick Response Group (QRG) of the 9 Brigade in Lagos arrested a 37-year old suspect who organised the kidnap of his uncle.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos, the Brigade Commander, Brig.-Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade, said that it was the movement of the vehicle conveying the victim that attracted the soldiers. According to him, the suspect was arrested at the weekend by the operatives attached to the Ogun State joint military special task force, QRG, at Kala Village on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway. Mr Nwezeakpu, 76, was abducted from his Lagos residence by a three-man gang led by his relation who took him out using the name of the Economic Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan as a bait. Oyebade disclosed that the victim is a friend of the presidential aide.

“Two other members of the gang took to their heels when they sighted the security-men,” he said, adding, “a Honda car with registration No. LND 571 AP, belonging to the suspect, was also recovered.” Oyebade stated that the Army has commenced a manhunt for the two other members of the gang who fled on sighting the soldiers. “Throughout the journey, the suspected nephew did not alter a word for fear that he might be recognized by his relation,” he added.

The commander noted that most kidnap cases were usually organised by an insider who provide their gang members with useful information. Oyebade also said that the suspect and the victim would soon be handed over to the Department of State Security (DSS) who was in the know of the case for further investigation. He stated that the 81 Division and 9 Brigade will assist other security agencies in ridding the state of criminals.

However, Mr. Nwezeakpu told newsmen that he was shocked to have discovered that the man behind his kidnap was his nephew, who had once lived with him. “It will be an understatement if I say that I am still in shock. How could it be said that my brother’s son wanted me dead because I am sure that they will not let me go free after ransom has been collected and knowing that I must have identified him,” he said.

The septuagenarian said that with his hands tied to his back, blindfolded and dumped in the boot of the car, only God knows where the gang was heading to. “I shouted when I had the voice of the securitymen demanding to know where we were heading to at about 1.30am and with a bad tyre,” he added.