A joint team of operatives of Department of State Services, DSS, Anambra State Command and the Army have rescued Mr. Pius Maduka, the elder brother of Cosmos Maduka, the Chief Executive Officer of COSCHARIS Group, from kidnappers at Okporo Mgbidi, Orlu local government area of Imo State.
The victim (Pius) was kidnapped at his hometown, Umudim Nnewi, Nnewi local government area of Anambra State by gunmen on July 4, 2014.
Briefing newsmen yesterday at DSS office, Awka, State Director of Security, Alex Okeiyi disclosed that during the operation, the team arrested two suspects, Chigozie Ebere from Obowo and Bartholomew Ugwu (Aka Jack-More), from Umunze Orumba South local government area, Anambra State and shot dead the third, Ikechukwu from Nwangele, Imo State when he attempted to escape.
According to Okeiyi, the team further recovered the 607 Peugeot car with registration No. GCE 31 BC used for the kidnap.
“The gang demanded ransom in the sum of one hundred million naira (N100m), which it scaled down to fifty million naira (N50m). The victim’s family had paid the sum of twelve million naira (N12m), expecting he would be released but the hoodlums refused to do so, insisting on payment of the outstanding thirty-eight million naira (N38m), until the rescue operation.
“Investigation showed that the same gang was responsible for the kidnap of one Michael Okoli (Aka American Sergeant) in Umunze, Orumba South LGA, on 6th June 2014. His cousin, Nnaemeka Nzekwe, suspected to have sold him out, was arrested by operatives on 12th July, 2014, in Umunze,” Okeiyi said.
The DSS boss further said that investigation also showed the hideout where Maduka was rescued has been an old camp of the gang, where several kidnap victims in Anambra State including and Imo State were kept, until ransoms were paid for their release.
Okeiyi said it was heartwarming to note that the leader of the gang identified as Ifeanyi (Aka Obele) has been arrested by Rivers State Command of DSS the same day (July 14), adding that the suspect collected the N12 million paid by Maduka family and was said to provide weapons for the gang.