FAMILY of five arrested for kidnapping

It was a day of reckoning for five members  of a family as they landed in police net for their alleged role in the kidnapping of a lady in Imo State. The state police command through its Anti-Kidnapping Squad, bust the alleged evil activities of the Osuji family and rescued their victim, Veronica Iwuchukwu, who was first abducted on May 25, 2012 from where she had gone to attend a burial.

The victim, was said to have been kidnapped by the Osujis and taken to their family compound where their mother and younger sisters fed her. Crimewatch gathered athat as soon as the victim was taken to their home, the Osujis phoned the family of the victim demanding for a N10million ransom. While the victim’s family was negotiating the ransom, the Osujis were elated and began to celebrate during which they got themselves drunk.

The victim who noticed that her abductors who were drunk, and have taken enough substance suspected to be drug, cashed in on the  situation and fled. Vero as she is  fondly called ran into a compound, and was trying to relate her predicament to the occupants, but she was not given the opportunity as she was chased away. Vero ran to another compound where she was also rejected.

Unfortunately, the woman could not run far as the kidnappers who  had recovered from their unconsciousness went after her and she was re-abducted by them. Luck eventually ran out on  the kidnappers, as some of the youths who witnessed the re-abduction went to the police station and  reported the evil act at Mba Olu Police station. The police  arrested the Osujis including the father, mother, daughter and two sons. Arrested also were their suspected accomplices.

The  Commissioner  of Police, Mr. Chris Dega, who confirmed the arrest, said the victim’s family had initially paid N1million ransom and that after collecting the money, the suspects told the victim’s family that they must pay the remaining balance of N9 million. CP Dega said when the report got to the police, the police picked their mother and warned her children through phone call that if they did not release the victim within a specific time,  she would be shot.

The Osujis who  did not want  to gamble with their mother’s  life, quickly released Vero. Vero who was praising God and the police for saving her life, told Crimewatch that she had gone for a burial and was abducted at gun- point. She explained how the Osuji’s treated her  well “they really took care of me. Their mother and her daughter  were cooking and providing me with food.”

The woman who was still in shock on how a whole family would be involved in kidnapping noted that as they were feeding her well, they were still demanding for N10 million ransom. However, Dega  who said the force recovered  some  arms and ammunition in  Osujis’ residence said the suspects would soon be arraigned