Kidnap Victim Rescued By Soldiers, Suspect Arrested in Lagos

Kidnap suspect

A suspected kidnapper who was taking his victim to a hideout along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway has been arrested by men of the Nigerian Army Quick Response Group, and his victim resued in the process.

The soldiers were however surprised to find out the suspect was the victim’s relation.

The 37-year-old suspect identified as Tony Anene, was paraded before newsmen in Lagos. He was alleged to have connived with two others, currently at large, to abduct his uncle, Mr. Dominic Nwaezeapu, apparently over a land dispute.

The kidnappers were said to have lured their victim out of the house, pretending they were sent by the Economic Adviser to the President, Mr. Augustine Uwaizi Ahikoya, in respect of the land dispute.

But immediately the victim stepped out of the compound, he was reportedly blindfolded and ordered into a waiting car. He was reportedly left incommunicado and without food for three days.

Explaining how they were arrested, Commander, 9 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Adeniyi Oyebade, said: “At about 1a.m, on Friday, the Nigerian Army Quick Response Group which operates on Lagos-Ibadan-Ogere axis stopped a Honda car, blue in colour with number plate LND 751 AP in Akara village, somewhere around Ogun State.

“They observed that the vehicle was just wobbling along with one of its tyres in bad shape. During the on-the-spot interrogation as part of the “stop and search operations,” somebody in the vehicle later identified as Mr. Dominic Nwaezeapu screamed that he was kidnapped.

“On hearing that shout, two of the kidnappers out of the three, jumped out of the vehicle and ran into the bush. Unfortunately, one of them, Tony Anene, was apprehended. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the victim was abducted on April 9, 2013.

“It was under the guise of the land dispute that the elderly man was kidnapped using the name of the Economic Adviser but based on our investigation, the economic adviser has nothing to do with the kidnapping.”

The suspect confessed that he tried to convince his uncle not to honour the invitation of the abductors.

“A few weeks ago, my uncle (Dominic) called me to say that some people had called him, wanting to resolve the land issue located at Oshimili Local Government Area of Delta State, in particular Okpoije Umueze quarters in Ibuzor.

“He said they asked him to come to Ikeja, that economic adviser sent them. But I told my uncle not to go, that the man in question was not a nice person. I also told him if the man had any problem, he would come to his house.”