Police in Imo state have arrested two brothers identified as Fortunate Osuji, 25, and Praise Osuji, 17, for conniving with other members of a kidnap gang, to abduct their youngest brother, Confidence Osuji, 14, so as to extort N7 million from their grandfather.
The state Commissioner of Police, Isaac Akinmoyede, who disclosed this said the Osuji brothers lost their parents in 2009 and are being taken care of by their grandfather, Chief Chukwuma Osuji, who is said to be the traditional Prime Minister of his village, Emekuku in Owerri North local government area of the state.
Akinmoyede stated that on June 10, 2020, at 6:30pm, the distraught grandfather visited the Anti-Kidnapping Squad in the state where he reported that one of his sons, Confidence Osuji, was kidnapped at Ezedibia Emekuku in Owerri North local government area of Imo State.
The police boss said the Squad’s Commander, Linus Nwaiwu (Superintendent of Police) and his operatives were able to track the kidnappers to their location, Amaiyii-Amate Ikeduru L.G.A, Imo State, on June 11, 2020.
The brothers, Fortunate and Praise, were arrested, including one other gang member. However, the gang leader Nelson Dike, is at large.
In an interview with TheSun, the distraught grandfather expressed shock that his own grandchildren can hatch and execute such an evil plan.
Narrating his ordeal, he said;
When I didn’t see my grandson, Confidence, who was kidnapped I immediately reported the case to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad. The kidnappers started calling me on my phone and demanding for N7 million. They threatened that if I refused to pay the ransom, they would use the victim for ritual.
I quickly went and dropped N1 million without the consent of the police. I dropped the money at their camp at Upe in Ngor-Okpala local government area of Imo State.
I was surprised that immediately I paid the money, that evening my grandson was released but I was happy. Later on, the police came and arrested the three children. I didn’t understand until when they got into custody and Fortunate confessed that he masterminded the kidnapping with Praise.
He confessed that they conspired to kidnap their younger brother with other five kidnappers. It came to me as a big shock. I didn’t believe it myself.
When interrogated, the mastermind of the kidnap, Fortunate who is the eldest of the three brothers, narrated;
My brothers and I been living with our grandparents from 2009 till date. I was the one who masterminded the kidnapping of my younger brother. We started planning it in 2017 and I had to win the heart of my younger brother, Praise, to agree with me.
I contacted my five gang members of kidnappers to execute it on June 10, 2020. I gave Confidence N200 to wait for us at a particular junction leading to Nelson’s house. I said we were going out for shopping but it was a lie.
Before that time, I had arranged with my friends. The moment he got to that junction they kidnapped him and kept him in their custody.
Praise on his part, said he regrets his actions as he was persuaded to agree to the plan by his older brother and he pleaded for forgiveness.
1 million to kidnap your own blood brother. These ones have sold their souls to the devil. They should face firing squad to serve a deterrent to others. Imagine the trauma grandpa was subjected to. Even the poor boy would be wondering. Meanwhile papa and mama would be watching from heaven… what a world.