A
suspected kidnapper, Anthony
Egidi, 33, a welder by profession, claimed he joined kidnapping ‘business’in
Port Harcourt, River State out of frustration. According to him, he became an emergency millionaire,
after he netted N10m as a kidnapper.
Egidi said: “I
bought cars, four plots of land in Benin City and another plot in Lagos. I also
opened supermarket for my wife. My wife believed I’m a welder. She only got to
know I’m a kidnapper after police arrested me.”
Egidi and his5-member
gang were arrested on October, 26, 2014, in Ekiwa, Benin City by operatives of
the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police Command, led by SP.
Abba Kyari.
Investigators
said that the suspects operated with two AK47 rifles and three locally made
guns. Police have recovered them.
The suspect, who
is married with two kids, said that his first operation with the gang happened
at Delta State in 2011. They kidnapped a woman. His share from the operation
was N280, 000.
He said: “During
the first and second operation, the gang refused to disclose the venue to me.
They blindfolded my eyes because I was new in the gang. After the second
operation, we moved down to Benin City to kidnap a man. I got N100,
000. After receiving the money, I believed is a cool business.“The third
operation made me a millionaire. I was given N2.8m. The role I played was to
drive the gang. I didn’t know where they kept the victim. It was a woman. We
collected N9m during the fourth operation. We kidnapped a man in Benin City. I
was also given N1.5m. We moved down to Delta State, between Oroku and Abeh
road. We kidnapped a man. I got N3.5m.”
Egidi explained
that after making millions in the South East, he and his members decided to
penetrate South West.
“Our sixth
operation was at Eleko Junction, Ajah on June 2014. We collected N1.6m ransom
from the person. I was given 300, 000,” said Egidi.
He further
recollected that the seventh operation was when the gang kidnapped a female
worker of Key Stone Bank on her way home.
Egidi noted: “We
were seven in number that went on that operation. Steve blocked her car from
the back; while Tony with another guy came down to attack her. We abandoned her
car. We didn’t need it. We only needed her. We took her to bush; she spent six days in
the bush with us. We didn’t rape her. We gave her everything she requested for.
We bought food for her from Mr. Biggs.”
Egidi said that
they ordered the victim’s family to pay N6m. During the process, one of the
kidnappers was arrested when he went to collect the ransom. He didn’t know
policemen were in hiding. When police got to the kidnappers’ den, there was
exchange of gun fire.
Two of the
kidnappers were gunned down, while others fled. Egidi was arrested.
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