Governor celebrates release of kidnapped brother-in-law

The governor of Ebonyi State, Martin Elechi, his personal staff and family are in a celebratory mood following the release of Chris Nwankwo, the governor's brother in law who was held by kidnappers for three days until he was freed last weekend.

Mr. Nwankwo was kidnapped at Abakiliki, Ebonyi State last Wednesday and taken to Yala, Cross River State, where the culprits had hoped to negotiate the ransom demand from the state government.

The Cross River State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Baba Ahmed, who paraded the suspects, said the four kidnappers took a bush track with their victim and used a canoe to cross Okolo river to Wanakom, in Yala.

The kidnappers, Joshua Chukwuiyekwu Nwankwo, Ofutet Timothy, Kyriam, Ogbonna Christopher and Clement Ikpa Udu, were apprehended by villagers in a bush near the Abakiliki - Ogoja road and taken to the Ogoja Area Command of the Nigerian Police Force. Mr Nwankwo was immediately released to return to Abakiliki.

But Mr Udu, in a chat with reporters, said he was not one of the kidnappers and only used his canoe to ferry the men across the river.

The other three confessed that they paid Mr Udu to take them across when they met him at the bank of the river where he daily ferries passengers across on canoe. Yet, the Police have refused to release him.

The punishment is death

Mr. Ahmed said that on conclusion of investigations, the quartet will be handed over to the Ebonyi State Police Command for prosecution on some tough charges. The state government, last Tuesday signed into law a bill that requests the death penalty for kidnapping and hostage-taking in the state.

Items recovered from the kidnappers include one AK 47 rifle, 121 calibre 5.56mm live ammunition, 7 empty AK 47 magazines, one single barrel gun, one Spring Bank ATM card, two Nokia handsets, one national ID card and some native charms.

The state commissioner of police also announced the arrest of a robbery gang that recently robbed several petrol stations in Calabar. Mr Ahmed, who said the suspects confessed to the crime, said guns and ammunition were recovered from them.

"With all of them now in Police net, they will soon face justice," the police boss said.