Kidnappers of Okonjo-Iweala’s mother ‘got N12m ransom’

A 27-year-old man, Peter Nweke, on Monday reportedly admitted that his gang  received a ransom of N12 million when they abducted Kamene Okonjo, mother of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former finance minister, in 2013.

A statement from the police in Enugu said Nweke, who hails from Umumba Ndiagu in Ezeagu local government area of the state, made the disclosure during interrogation.

The suspect said he was contacted by one Ifeanyi Chukwuemeka from Iselle Uku in Delta state, who linked him to one of the Okonjo’s family members that helped them to perfect the kidnap.

He said Chukwuemeka disguised as a corps member seeking for assistance and entered the compound and made away with their victim.

Nweke also told the police that in October last year, his gang abducted a pastor’s wife and her friend as well as their driver in Ugwuoba, Oji River in Enugu state.

He said they demanded N4 million but later got N1.12 million from the victim.

The statement signed by Ebere Amaraizu, spokesman of the police in Enugu, said the anti-kidnap unit of the command arrested the suspect who escaped to Cotonou after the kidnap of Okonjo.

The statement said the suspect resurfaced in 2015 with another gang, which included Ifeanyi Chukwuemeka and Ali Salli from Adamawa, both residing in Sabon Kashua, Asaba in Delta.

The suspect said he had been in kidnapping business for four years.

“I needed money to acquire AK-47 and pump action gun from one Musa from Adamawa at Sabon Kashua, Asaba through one of his cohorts, Ali Sali to make the business easier,” Nweke said.

Describing crime as an ill wind that blew nobody good, the suspect pleaded for forgiveness, while advising the youth to shun crime.