'Kidnapping has made us as rich as Aliko Dangote'; Arrested Kidnappers Confess

In Anambra state, kidnappers could be ranked among the biggest investors and employers of labour through their filthy lucre of abducting fellow human beings and demanding ransom for their release. Through the illegal business and the huge profit, kidnappers in the state have devised a means of investing the money they get from ransom collected from relatives of their victims, in hotel business and other profitable business ventures. Checks by Sunday Sun revealed that though the kidnappers are aware that their activities in many states attract capital punishment upon conviction, they are unrelenting due to the quick wealth and consequent affluence. However, the police, other security agencies as well as the state government are not relenting in their efforts to flush out the criminals. But as the fight against kidnappers continues, it has become obvious that the hoodlums have turned big time investors in various businesses with the usually heavy gains fromtheir satanic acts. Recently, some of the suspected kidnappers arrested in various parts of the state by the state Special Anti- Robbery Squad, (SARS) led by Mr. James Nwafor, allegedly made startling confessions about their huge financial muzzles. It was gathered that during interrogation, some of them and their kingpins told policemen that their illegal business has made them as rich as Alhaji Aliko Dangote , reputed as the country’s richest man. The suspects said they invested the money they received from ransom wisely in various profitable businesses and made sure they live in affluence and glamour as ‘big boys’. According to a community leaderin Oraifite who pleaded anonymity, “the suspects lived in affluence and glamour and paraded themselves as one of the richest people in the community with the large followers who are mainly youths”. Sunday Sun further gathered thatwhile some of the kidnappers wasted their money on frivolities and expensive life, some of them including the kingpins built expensive houses and hotels scattered all over the state and itsenvirons. Though the state governor, Mr. Peter Obi has clamped on some of the arrested kidnappers and demolished their homes built with ransom money, there are indications that many of such investments in cities across the country have not been discovered. Suspects and their investments Mr. Olisa Ifedika alias Ofeakwu who hails from Oraifite in Ekwusigo local government area of Anambra state allegedly made a confessional statement as the leader of one of the most dreaded kidnap gangs which led to the arrest of his partners and the discovery of their expensive homes. He had completed his ultra-modern bungalow and almost completed the second two- storey building that he wanted touse as a hotel located near the main road in his community. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Balla Nasarawa said: “A hotel built by Ofeakwu atEzumeri-Oraifite was nearing completion which has been located. The building was erectedwith ransom collected from their victims.” According to the Police boss, the kidnap kingpin made confessional statement that led to the discovery of the house built by another dangerous kidnap kingpin, Okechukwu Amasiatu alias Okey Nnewi. “One of the confessions was thatone Okechukwu Amasiatu alias Okey Nnewi is the second most dangerous kidnapper to Olisa Ifedika. The investigations by the police led to the discovery of his residence located almost opposite Ezinifite Police Division in Nnewi South council area of the state. “A magnificent bungalow of eight bedrooms built with ransom money collected from victims of kidnap was within a compound that belongs to his father. Okey Nnewi is still at largebut efforts have been intensified to arrest him. “He also gave another stunning revelation that their second armory is located at Uli. The confession led to the recovery of another catchments of arms and ammunition buried inside plastic containers by one Emeka Ezekude”, he said. Sunday Sun