This is indeed a sad
story for the families of Okoro who gave their daughter some money to return
back to her boarding school in Ikenne but was sadly kidnapped on her way from
Ajah to school. Precious later found herself in Niger Republic and she has been
there since last year. I wanted to read and summarize before, but after reading
the story, I felt you should read it too. My only fear is that, they said rather
too much. What if the kidnappers get to read this? May the Lord be with the
poor little girl. Just too sad. Read her sad story after the cut.
story for the families of Okoro who gave their daughter some money to return
back to her boarding school in Ikenne but was sadly kidnapped on her way from
Ajah to school. Precious later found herself in Niger Republic and she has been
there since last year. I wanted to read and summarize before, but after reading
the story, I felt you should read it too. My only fear is that, they said rather
too much. What if the kidnappers get to read this? May the Lord be with the
poor little girl. Just too sad. Read her sad story after the cut.
A Niger
Republic-based kidnapping syndicate has demanded the payment of $100, 000 as
ransom for the release of its 15-year-old victim, Precious Okoro.
The victim’s father,
Nwaigwe, explained that Precious was kidnapped around Songotedo, in the Ajah
area of Lagos State, where she had boarded a commercial vehicle en route to her
school in Ikenne, Ogun State.
Nwaigwe, explained that Precious was kidnapped around Songotedo, in the Ajah
area of Lagos State, where she had boarded a commercial vehicle en route to her
school in Ikenne, Ogun State.
He said he never
knew his daughter had been abducted until two weeks later when the school
management contacted him to say Precious had not reported in school.
knew his daughter had been abducted until two weeks later when the school
management contacted him to say Precious had not reported in school.
He explained that he
reported the matter to the police at the Ajah Police Division, where he was
asked to exercise patience. He said the cops initially thought she fled to a
boyfriend’s house.
reported the matter to the police at the Ajah Police Division, where he was
asked to exercise patience. He said the cops initially thought she fled to a
boyfriend’s house.
Nwaigwe, a trader,
said he was later contacted by the kidnappers, who informed him that his
daughter was in Niamey, the Niger Republic capital.
said he was later contacted by the kidnappers, who informed him that his
daughter was in Niamey, the Niger Republic capital.
He said, “My
daughter, who was on holiday, was returning to her school in Ikenne Communty
College, Ikene, Ogun State. On Sunday, May 25, 2014, she boarded a bus at the
motor park in my presence and I bid her farewell.
daughter, who was on holiday, was returning to her school in Ikenne Communty
College, Ikene, Ogun State. On Sunday, May 25, 2014, she boarded a bus at the
motor park in my presence and I bid her farewell.
“I thought she was
already in school until the principal called me and said the school was about
writing exams and nobody knew her whereabouts.
already in school until the principal called me and said the school was about
writing exams and nobody knew her whereabouts.
“I quickly informed
the police at Ajah, and the Divisional Police Officer told me to be calm and
wait because it was possible she went to a boyfriend’s house and they probably
wanted to fleece me.
the police at Ajah, and the Divisional Police Officer told me to be calm and
wait because it was possible she went to a boyfriend’s house and they probably
wanted to fleece me.
“One fateful morning
in August, I saw an international line and the kidnappers said they were
calling from Niamey in the Niger Republic, adding that if I wanted to see my
daughter alive, I should pay them $100,000.”
in August, I saw an international line and the kidnappers said they were
calling from Niamey in the Niger Republic, adding that if I wanted to see my
daughter alive, I should pay them $100,000.”
The Ohaozara, Ebonyi
State indigene said he did not take the callers serious, until he heard the
distressed voice of his daughter, who told him they were indeed in Niger
Republic and that the bus she boarded that day was owned by the kidnappers.
State indigene said he did not take the callers serious, until he heard the
distressed voice of his daughter, who told him they were indeed in Niger
Republic and that the bus she boarded that day was owned by the kidnappers.
Punch Metro learnt
that the victim’s father began to receive repeated calls from the kidnappers,
who later asked him to deposit an initial sum of $30,000.
that the victim’s father began to receive repeated calls from the kidnappers,
who later asked him to deposit an initial sum of $30,000.
He said, “I told
them to send me an account number, and they sent an Ecobank account number
belonging to one Nwachukwu Daniel. I did not have the money they requested and
I contacted the police for help, but I was asked to still exercise patience.
them to send me an account number, and they sent an Ecobank account number
belonging to one Nwachukwu Daniel. I did not have the money they requested and
I contacted the police for help, but I was asked to still exercise patience.
“After some weeks,
they called again and I asked for another account number. They sent a Diamond
Bank account number.
they called again and I asked for another account number. They sent a Diamond
Bank account number.
“They were using
different international lines to call. They used about 15 different numbers to
call us,” he added.
different international lines to call. They used about 15 different numbers to
call us,” he added.
Punch Metro learnt
that the police later decided to use a decoy to get some of the kidnappers
arrested.
that the police later decided to use a decoy to get some of the kidnappers
arrested.
A police source said
one of the female officers disguised as a girlfriend of one of the kidnappers
and called one of the international lines.
one of the female officers disguised as a girlfriend of one of the kidnappers
and called one of the international lines.
After a few weeks of
telephone conversations, the kidnapper-lover invited his lady to Niger
Republic.
telephone conversations, the kidnapper-lover invited his lady to Niger
Republic.
He said, “He sent
someone to bring her and detectives trailed her and monitored their calls. They
were able to arrest a suspect, who, however, denied knowing anything about the
kidnapping, but said he sometimes overheard the victim’s father conversing with
the ‘lover’.”
someone to bring her and detectives trailed her and monitored their calls. They
were able to arrest a suspect, who, however, denied knowing anything about the
kidnapping, but said he sometimes overheard the victim’s father conversing with
the ‘lover’.”
The matter was said
to have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba,
when there was no further breakthrough in the case.
to have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba,
when there was no further breakthrough in the case.
Our correspondent
gathered that the police decided to work on the three account numbers sent to
the victim’s family.
gathered that the police decided to work on the three account numbers sent to
the victim’s family.
A source told Punch
Metro that the numbers led the police to different states in the country.
Metro that the numbers led the police to different states in the country.
He said, “It was
discovered that one of the account numbers was opened at Idumota, Lagos State,
and when the police got there, they were told the owner was in Niger Republic.
discovered that one of the account numbers was opened at Idumota, Lagos State,
and when the police got there, they were told the owner was in Niger Republic.
“Another account
number led the police to Onitsha, Anambra State, and when they investigated,
they discovered that the owner had earlier been arrested by the Special
Anti-Robbery Squad in Onitsha and had been killed. The N200, 000 the victim’s
father paid into the account was stuck because the suspect did not collect it
before he died.”
number led the police to Onitsha, Anambra State, and when they investigated,
they discovered that the owner had earlier been arrested by the Special
Anti-Robbery Squad in Onitsha and had been killed. The N200, 000 the victim’s
father paid into the account was stuck because the suspect did not collect it
before he died.”
Our correspondent
was told that the police, however, arrested a sister of the suspect living in
Aba, Abia State, who had been collecting money paid into a Diamond Bank account
number opened in the state.
was told that the police, however, arrested a sister of the suspect living in
Aba, Abia State, who had been collecting money paid into a Diamond Bank account
number opened in the state.
The girl was said to
have admitted that the account belonged to her brother, who was sending money
into it and giving her instructions on how the funds should be distributed
among the family members.
have admitted that the account belonged to her brother, who was sending money
into it and giving her instructions on how the funds should be distributed
among the family members.
A source said the
girl had been arrested with two other suspects.
girl had been arrested with two other suspects.
The victim’s father,
Nwaigwe, said the matter had been referred to the Federal Criminal
Investigation Department, Alagbon, Lagos.
Nwaigwe, said the matter had been referred to the Federal Criminal
Investigation Department, Alagbon, Lagos.
It was learnt that
the police had not been able to do anything due to lack of funds.
the police had not been able to do anything due to lack of funds.
“The police have
gone far on this case and needed funds to get those rogues arrested. There is
still hope of getting the girl safe home,” a source said.
gone far on this case and needed funds to get those rogues arrested. There is
still hope of getting the girl safe home,” a source said.
The Police Public
Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, said he would call back, but had yet to do so
as of the time of filing this report.
Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, said he would call back, but had yet to do so
as of the time of filing this report.
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