Abductors of retired civil servant demand N20m ransom

ABDUCTORS of a retired civil servant in Imo State, Chief Raymond Irechukwu, are said to have demanded about N20 million from his family members before he could be freed from captivity.

A family source who confided in The Guardian yesterday said the victim’s abductors scaled through a fence of his ancestral home located in Umuofia, opposite a hotel along the Federal Polytechnic Nekede /Ihiagwa , about 1.30 am on Sunday, entered Irechukwu’s room brandishing guns and forcefully asked him into a waiting motorcycle blindfolded.

The source said: “They are demanding N20 million ransom.”

Speaking on the issue on yesterday, the Imo State Police Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Andrew Enwerem, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident, adding that the Command was yet to receive any information either opening communication with the kidnappers or a demand of N20 million ransom.

He said: “We received the report on it that it took place on August 31 about 1.30 a.m. We have not been told of the kidnappers establishing communication with the victim’s family.”