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Police rescue boy abducted by mother’s driver

By Sunday Odita
12 May 2016   |   4:29 am
The little boy was reportedly abducted by Igiri and two others including a young woman from his Worji residence, shortly after he returned from School on April 19.
Goodnews with his mother

Goodnews with his mother

… Quiz Anambra councillor over nephew’s death

Men of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) of the Rivers State Police Command has rescued a four-year-old boy, Goodnews Tenalo, allegedly abducted by his mother’s driver, Jeremiah Igiri, in Port Harcourt, the state capital, last April.

The little boy was reportedly abducted by Igiri and two others including a young woman from his Worji residence, shortly after he returned from School on April 19.

He was subsequently taken to Eliozu axis, in Obio/Akpor local council of the state where he was left in the care of the female accomplice, who little Goodnews later identified as Aunty Blessing.

The victim was reportedly detained by his abductors for 17 days, while demanding N20 million ransom from the mother of the child, Mrs. Georgina Tenalo.

Igiri admitted committing the crime and said he initiated and organized the child’s kidnap, and then brought Blessing and another male into the plot. He expressed regrets at his actions, claiming that he does not know why he did the act, especially when his Madam (employer), was good to him.

In another development, the police in Anambra State have arrested a councillor, Mr. Chidiebere Onyema, representing Nsogwu Umunze Ward 2 in the Orumba South local council of Anambra over the death of his nephew. The deceased, identified as Nnanyere Onyema, 19, lost his life over an allegation that he stole two cell phones.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Police Command, Mr. Ali Okechukwu, confirmed the development in Awka yesterday.

The police spokesman confirmed that the councillor had already been detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department at Awka. “Investigation is ongoing to unravel the cause of the incident,’’ Okechukwu said.

The mother of the deceased, Mrs. Gloria Onyema, said that Nnanyere died on May 6, after receiving severe beating from the councillor on the day of the incident. She said Chidiebere came to her apartment in the early hours of May 6, demanding to see Nnanyere.

“After the day’s business, I and my husband returned back home later in the day and was told by Nnanyere’s younger brother, Tochukwu that Chidiebere had been beating Nnanyere.

“When I went to look for Nnanyere, I saw him at Chidiebere’s flat lying helplessly on the ground with severe wounds. When I inquired the reason for the beating, I was told that my son stole Chidiebere’s mother’s and sister’s cell phones.

“I pleaded to pay back the cost of the phones which Chidiebere said was N35, 000. I offered to bring N20, 000 part payment for my son to be released to me so that I can take him to hospital for treatment.

“On getting to Immaculate Hospital, Umunze for treatment, he was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty,’’ she said.

An uncle to the deceased, Mr Jude Umunna, described the development as an abomination.

Speaking to newsmen on the abduction of her little son, Mrs. Tenalo said she met and employed Igiri from a car hire company after testing his driving skill for four years (from 2012), and that he has worked with her as a permanent driver for just two months.

She regretted the pains Igiri inflicted on her and family members and said that while the search for the boy was on, he (suspect), was also searching on with the rest members of the family and was taking her to everywhere including churches and police stations.

She advised the government on the need to set up a bureau that would properly investigate domestic workers before they would be hired into peoples’ home, to avoid the continued repetition of the agony they (domestic staff), put families through.

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