The Department of State Security (DSS) in Anambra State has paraded three persons who allegedly kidnapped Mr. Charles Onyido, a legal practitioner based in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Area of the state.

They comprise a native doctor, Mr. Ajana Onyibor (68) from Igbakwu in Ayamelum, Ernest Elem, a.k.a Lamboghini (24) from Nkanu in Enugu State and Chukwuebuka Okafor, a.k.a Nchafu (25) from Ogidi. The suspects reportedly kidnapped Barrister Onyido as he was walking to his house at night last week Wednesday, August 27.

In a chat with journalists at the DSS headquarters in Awka, Onyido said that the kidnappers, who were four in number at the time, bundled him into their vehicle at gun point and threatened to kill him if he made any noise.

He said: “They blindfolded me and used the butt of the gun to beat me severally during the period they held me. I lost one tooth as a result of their beating and one of them told me that they were paid N20 million to kill me.”

According to the Anambra State director of DSS, Mr. Alex Okeiyi, the kidnappers demanded N100 million from the family of Onyido and as the money did not come, they reduced it to N2.5 million.

“Shortly after the rescue of the victim, the native doctor, Onyibor, who was a suspected accomplice in the kidnap saga and who has a shrine opposite the room where the victim was kept, was arrested with the assistance of local vigilantes and men of the Nigeria Police at Nteje in Oyi local government area. “The herbalist is believed to be providing spiritual protection to members of the gang,” Okeiyi said.

He disclosed that in the course of investigation, it was found that the same gang had earlier kidnapped an Onitsha-based legal practitioner, Mr. Ejike Efobi, at Nkpor, near Onitsha, and kept him in the same hideout where Onyido was kept until an undisclosed ransom was paid.

Okeiyi observed that though kidnapping has reduced considerably in the state, some bad elements still engage in isolated kidnapping, warning that the long arms of the law would continue to catch up with such ones.

•Photo shows native doctor Ajana Onyibor, accused of providing spiritual protection to kidnappers.

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