Two brothers kidnap their younger brother for N7million ransom arrested

*Mastermind of the kidnapping joined in search party for the missing victim, pockets N450,000 as share of the loot

The suspects, Lucky Osuji 25, Reward 17, from Emekuku Owerri North local government area of Imo State, conspired with members of Black Axe Fraternity,a cult group and kidnapped their younger brother, Confidence, who is 14years old and threatened to kill him for rituals if their grandfather failed to give them N7million.

The suspects.                        Victim

The grandfather, Chief Chukwuna Osuji, village Prime Minister worried by the incident was said to have reported the matter instantly to the Police who advised him not to pay any money. But he went ahead and negotiated N1millon and dropped the cash at the criminals hideout at Upe, Ngor Okpala after that, the kidnapped grandson was released.

The Commissioner of Police, Imo State, Isaac Akimmoyede, who confirmed the incident explained that the suspects’ grandfather,Chief Osuji had on June 10,2020, reported the matter to the Anti-kidnapping  Squad that one of his son’s, Confidence Osuji was kidnapped.

Akimmoyede said on getting the report, he mobilised the Anti-Kidnapping Squad Commander, Linus Nwaiwu and his team to action.After days of detailed observation and investigation, ,they swooped on their location, Upe in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, Bernard Ugo, one of the criminals was arrested. On interrogation, he confessed that the two brothers, Lucky and Reward were accomplices, the police arrested them also. Further investigation revealed more gang members involved in the crime.

Two days later Okechukwu Nwachuku, 22 whose home was used as the spot for the ransom collection was arrested.His arrest led to the arrest of the remaining members of the gang, Apollo Jeffrey 22, Iregbu Akachuku, 30 the Police Commissioner said.

One of the brothers Lucky who was involved in the act is said to be a graduate of a tertiary institution waiting for his call up letter for the National Youth Service Corps NYSC., while the other brother has finished his Senior Secondary School Programme and awaiting admission into the University.

Lucky, while giving his account of his role said his father, Elvis Osuji and mother, Blessing Osuji, both died in 2009, leaving him and brothers as orphans. Since his parents died, he and his siblings have been living with his grandparents.

According to him, he was the mastermind of the kidnapping, an act which he confessed he orchestrated since 2017,but needed his immediate younger brother’s consent to join him in the plan which the brother agreed. He then contracted 5 members of his gang to execute the plan.

On June 10,2020, he gave the victim N200,00 to wait for them at the junction saying they were going out to buy something which was a lie as he already organized his friends to kidnap his brother so before the brother got to the junction, the gang members kidnapped him. 

He said that when the matter was reported to his grandfather, he(Lucky) feigned ignorance and helped his grandfather to look for his brother.The suspect said when his gang members asked his grandpa to pay N7million, his grandpa pleaded with them and paid N1million out of which he received N450,000

He added that his grandfather was good to them, but their desire to open a barbing salon was the reason they kidnapped their brother in order to raise money for the business and begged their grandfather to forgive them.