Abia State Police Parade abductors of PDP Chieftain, Chief Ukpai Ukiro

Abia State Police Command, yes­terday, paraded the suspected abductors of the South-East Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ukpai Ukiro, along other kidnap and rob­bery suspects.

The Commissioner of Police, Besan Gwana, who paraded the sus­pects at Ogbo Hill Police Station, identified Ukiro’s abductors as Ogbonna Onyekachi, Friday Uba, and Chibuzor Nwankwo.

The PDP chieftain, who was kidnapped with his driver and personal assistant around 8pm along Isiala Ngwa axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway on June 30, regained his freedom the next day after escap­ing from the bush where they were tied.

Police said the sus­pects were apprehended following a tip-off, add­ing that the victim’s Toyota Venza was also recovered from one of the suspects.

Later in an interview, the leader of the gang, Onyekachi, confessed to the crime and blamed it on economic hardship.

The Osisioma Ngwa born-block moulder said he only resorted to kid­napping for ransom in November 2015, con­fessing that he collected a ransom of N1.5 million from his last victim before the PDP chief­tain was abducted. An­other member of the cell, Chibuzor said he is a commercial bus driver and that he only joined the gang two months ago, while pleading for mercy.

Paraded also were four suspected rob­bers: Belenu Chijioke, Egbuke Jibuhi, Oke­chukwu Madubuko, and Orji Henry who at a gun point disposed Chin­edu Igwealo and Ifeoma Igwealo of their laptop, money and other be­longings at St Michaels Road Aba.

They also confessed to the crime and pleaded for mercy.

The police also parad­ed one Kelvin Harrison arrested at Umuojima Osisioma for alleged in­volvement in robbery operation.

Paraded also were members of a robbery gang who were arrested after a gun duel with the police in Aba during a robbery operation at York Street.

The new police boss warned criminals to re­locate from the state or brace up for hard times as no part of Abia will be used as a breeding ground for them