Tragedy struck Afikpo community in Afikpo local government area of Ebonyi state as kidnappers invaded the area and killed a girl and whisked away two others. Investigations by PALM MEDIA revealed that the hoodlums stormed the community about 8:00pm on New Year day along Ndibe Beach Road and opened fire on a small convoy cars carrying one Chief Alazu.
It was learnt that the kidnap gang numbering five trailed that convoy carrying some Afikpo sons and daughters who came in from London for the Yuletide holiday and on getting closer opened fire on the one of the cars behind Chief Alazu’s Jeep and shot sporadically into the car.
On sensing that something was wrong, the driver of one of the cars pulled up and the hoodlums went straight for the passengers and ordered the two girls, who came from London, and a boy, a relation in their company who came in from Owerri, into their car.
Not done yet, the hoodlums attempted to stop Chief Alazu’s car too possibly to kidnap him, but the driver of Jeep refused to stop and they rained bullets into the Jeep and subsequently shot the tires.
But an eye witness, Mr Onya Idam, said sensing danger, the driver rather sped off and managed to escape even as driver’s boss, Chief Alazu, had sustained bullet wounds.
The witness said fearing that passers-by may raise the alarm, the kidnappers zoomed off with their three victims and on noticing that one of the girls, Chinyere, who also came in from London for Christmas Holiday, was lifeless after receiving some gun shots, they pushed her out of the car and the body was picked up and deposited at a mortuary in Afikpo.
Further investigation revealed that the kidnappers had called a member of the family of one of the victims and demanded N50m as ransom.
As at the time of filling this report, Chief Alazu is said to be in one of the hospitals in Abakaliki receiving medical attention.
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