BY AGNES NWORIE< ABAKALIKI
A Keke operator in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, identified as Ogwogu Chidi Nwuzor, has rescued two children from suspected kidnappers.
The operator, who is also a graduate of Sociology from the Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, said he stumbled on the suspected kidnappers around 2.30pm on Thursday, along Nkwegu-Afikpo Road, in Abakaliki.
The suspects had asked Nwuzor to convey them to the motor park where they would board a vehicle to Enugu State.
According to him, the children, between ages four and six, were half naked and looked tattered when he accepted to convey them to Enugu park.
The keke operator said during a conversation with the suspected kidnappers, he claimed to be a security agent, adding that this forced them to change their itinerary and stop at a place popularly known as Nkaliki junction.
Nwuzor noted that at that point, he became sure that the proposed journey to Enugu had some question marks and alerted people around.
He said, “When I asked why they were taking those tattered and undressed children to Enugu, the woman said it was out of the maltreatment resulting from the inter-communal conflict between Izzi and Ikwo; that their father was from Ikwo and their mother from Izzi. She said their mother was her sister.
“But I didn’t stop, I kept asking, to the extent that I told them I was a security man and that terrified them. They couldn’t reach the park again but dropped at Nkaliki Junction. But due to their suspicious movement, I followed them up when they changed their direction. I alerted neighbours and the police and through interogation, it was found that those children were kidnapped.
“In case of any missing children, report to Police Headquarters, Abakaliki, for clarification and possible collection.”
Efforts to speak with the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Loveth Odah, as of the time of filing this report, were not successful.
