- Police arrest state APC spokesman, others
Larry Ogbu, Abakaliki
The All Progressives Congress (APC) publicity secretary in Ebonyi State, Simbad Ogbuatu and eight other persons are currently cooling their heels at the state Police Command headquarters in Abakaliki, over their alleged links to the kidnap and killing of the father of the immediate past Deputy governor, Hon. Kelechi Igwe.
The former deputy governor’s father, who was until his death was the traditional ruler of Ndufu-Alike Ikwo Community in Ikwo LGA, of the state, HRH Francis Eze Igwe, was kidnapped penultimate Sunday on his way to church.
The Authority gathered that, as the the traditional ruler made his way to church, some armed men on motorcycles blocked his vehicle, swiftly seized him, and whisked him off.
“Few hours later, the kidnappers used the monarch’s mobile telephone to contact his son, the former deputy governor, demanding a N250 million ransom,” the source disclosed.
“Unfortunately for the kidnappers, the trauma of the attack, coupled with the old age of their captive, quickly began to take a toll on the old monarch’s health.
“Out of panic, the kidnappers contacted the former deputy governor, asking him to, while sourcing for the N250 million ransom money, send N500,000 to enable them handle his sick father’s medical emergency.
“With advice from security agents, the former deputy governor managed to convince the kidnappers to send an account number to send the N500,000 while he continued with arrangements to deliver the N250 million in cash.
“The APC State publicity secretary, Ogbuatu, sent what he felt was a ‘safe’ account number of an online bank. From the account number, the police were able to track and arrest him and his accomplices,” the source offered, adding, “sadly, by that time, the old man had died in the kidnappers’ den.”
According to the source, after the monarch died in captivity, his captors, not prepared for such outcome, used old car tyres to burn the body.
Meanwhile, outrage, shock and condemnation have continued to trail the incident, with the state governor, Francis Nwifuru, charging security agencies to bring to book all those linked to the kidnap and death of the traditional ruler.
At the weekend, the state APC chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro-Emegha, led a delegation of the party leadership on a condolence visit to the former deputy governor.
Okoro-Emegha said the news of the party executive’s complicity was so shocking that he could not face the public.
“The report is unheard of as I do not have the confidence to face the public since the past two days. Members of the party cannot believe in their entire lives that the party can be associated with such act,” he lamented.
