The commando-like operation was that
of kidnap! The armed invaders numbering eight, reportedly positioned themselves
strategically within the house of Dr. Paul Erie, an associate professor of
agricultural economics at the Department of Agricultural Economics and
Extension, Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, on June 16, 2015, at Igbanke,
Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State. Time was 8pm. While some of
them barged into the sitting room without knocking, others stayed outside to
ward off intruders.
Crime Guard gathered that that Dr
Erie’s case was not the first of its kind in Igbanke. In fact, some indigenes that
came visiting during festive periods are frequently kidnapped, only to be
released after payment of ransom.
Erie’s devastated family, was asked
to drop N900,000 next day at a designated point at the instruction of his
abductors who promised to release him later that day.
But the culprits never lived up to
their promise as Erie’s apprehensive family members waited in vain for his
return, without any explanation from his abductors on reasons for the delay.
The worst fears of the anxious
family were however confirmed four months after, following the arrest of the
suspected kidnappers by men of the Anti-Kidnapping Team set up by the Edo State
Commissioner of Police, Mr Chris Ezike, where it was discovered to the chagrin
of all, that Dr Erie had been murdered!
During interrogation, the suspects
disclosed that the remains of Dr. Erie had been buried in a shallow grave in
their hideout located inside a forest at Igbanke
Surprisingly, one of the suspects
was discovered to be an in-law to the deceased. He is Lucky Amiehi, the
suspected leader of the kidnap syndicate that had been terrorizing Igbanke and
the entire Edo State. In this interview with Crime Guard, Amiehi (33), a welder who
admitted to have been behind several kidnaps said “I started kidnapping since
2012 and we were more than eight initially. Some of our members are no longer
in Nigeria. “But whenever business was low, I focused on my welding job”,
He was however quick to state that
he never knew that late Erie was his in-law until the gang’s sinister motive
was accomplished. Hear him: “Yes, I was among those that went to kidnap Prof.
from his house. I never knew him by his name. But he was popularly called
‘Prof.’ We never planned to kill him. His death was an error on the part
of my colleagues.
After we succeeded in abducting him
from his house, we drove straight to the bush where we kept him. We did not
blindfold him, but only advised him to cooperate with us. Next day, I contacted
his wife and demanded for N10 million ransoms. But she pleaded that she could
only raise N900,000 and I told her where to take the money to.
“Immediately after the conversation,
I went back to the bush only to discover that Prof.’s mouth was tied with his
singlet. When I asked why, they told me that he attempted to raise the alarm
when he heard footsteps. “But on close observation, I discovered that he was
motionless. Immediately, I untied his mouth.
Yet, he did not move. I called the
attention of the boys that tied him up, but they claimed he was only
pretending. Since it was raining, I let him be, with the hope that he would be
revived by the rain. That evening, I went to the meeting point to collect the
N900,000 ransom from his wife. “But to my surprise, I
later discovered that he was my in-law.
My sister was married to Prof’s
younger brother who died about five years ago. She had a son for him. Though I
visited her while her late husband was alive, I never met Prof. It was when my
relative told me that my sister’s brother in-law had been kidnapped and
described his house to me, that I realised I had shot myself in the leg.
“I never gave anyone information on
Prof. In fact, one of us wanted to kidnap him before now. But by the time they
went, they discovered he had left for Ekpoma Campus of AAU, where he was a
lecturer. On the day he was eventually kidnapped, I was informed he was around.
In fact, two members of our gang had to keep watch on his apartment before our
arrival.”
“We treat our victims like VIPs.” “We never beat our victims because
someone who wants to give you money does not deserve to be beaten. Rather, we
treated them like VIPs. We never meant to kill Prof. His death was an error.
The singlet used to tie his mouth was mistakenly used to tie his nose as well.
He could have suffocated.”
Amiehi disclosed further that,
before the abduction of late Dr Erie, an indigene of Igbanke who came visiting
from Port Harcourt, River State, Mr Abel Ushagwu, : “The man worked in an oil
firm in Port Harcourt. He visited the village for burial. On his way back from
the funeral ceremony, we laid ambush for him in front of his house, was also
taken to the bush, from where he was released after N5 million was paid as
ransom.
Amiehi revealed that he got N600,000
out of the amount, and added we also had the intention of selling the victim’s
car. But it was tracked by the police to where we packed it.
“I was also responsible for the
abduction of two Chinese men along Esan Road. We drove them to the bush as
usual but they later escaped. They were able to escape because after each
kidnap, we usually stayed distance away from where our victims were kept. That
way, policemen will not be able to trace our exact location, should they be
tracking our calls.”
Asked how they were able to
abduct the Chinese men, he said: “We laid ambush for them along the expressway
and struck when they slowed down on approaching a bad spot.” Also
asked how they were able to cover their tracks in the bush without being
noticed by villagers who have farmlands around their den, he said victims were
usually warned in their own interest to keep quiet since they were not going to
be used for rituals.
He further explained that most
times, they monitored farmers before leaving or going to visit their den. “I
also changed my clothes any time I was going out of the bush so as not to
arouse farmers’ suspicion. Besides, the forest is very far from villagers
farmlands, so no one could easily see our victims.”
Business, according to him,
sometimes went sour, particularly when they discovered that their victims were
poor. “Most times, it was women that turned out to be poor victims. And these
people were usually those kidnapped outside Igbanke. Any time such persons were
kidnapped, we would allow them to go because our purpose of kidnapping in the
first place was to make money.”
Asked what he used the money
realised from the illicit business for, he replied in a harsh tone: “Ah! Ah!
Why are you asking me such question? Am I not a family man? It is expected that
I should have expenses as a family man. I have a wife and two children who are
students.”
When asked if his wife was aware
that he was into kidnapping, he replied: “No, she was not. I did not even give
her any reasonable amount any time business boomed, or must I tell my wife
everything? She does not have to know everything about me simply because she is
my wife. Whenever I went out for an operation, whether at night or in the day
time, I didn’t need her approval. And whenever I returned, she won’t ask me
where I went to.”
Arrested alongside Amiehi were
Usiagwu Stephen (68), Jeremiah Amayo (40), Samson Idegbema (39), Eboigbe
Monday, Ejimeh Oyairie (55), Benjamin Blessing (27) and Odion Otabo (40). Some
of them confessed their culpability in several kidnaps in the state while
others claimed to be victims of circumstance, appealing to the police to
pardon them.
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