An Aba based oil magnate, Christopher Ezenku, has been freed a week after he was abducted by gunmen at the gate of his residence at the Faulks road area of the city.
Ezenku, who hails from Umuoru Uga community in Aguata local council of Anambra State, was kidnapped on Tuesday as he was about driving into his house at Patrick Avenue.
247ureports.com gathered that the oil magnate was dropped at the outskirts of Aba at the early hours of Saturday after his family members allegedly paid the N20 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers.
According to a family source, Ezenku who has been kidnapped twice in the past ordered his family to source for the N20million ransom to ensure his quick release.
247ureports.com investigations revealed that Ezenku’s family was yet to make a formal complain about his kidnap at the Ariaria Police Division under whose jurisdiction the incident took place. The family source hinted that they resolved not to involve the police because of the experiences of the two previous kidnap incidents with the men of the underworld which nearly led to the death of the oil magnate.
“It is better we negotiate with the kidnappers without the involving the police. We didn’t want to take chances with the life of my brother who was spending his third day with the kidnappers. Anything can happen if we make any delay, “he said.
A senior police officer at the Ariaria Division who spoke on the condition of anonymity confirmed that the family did not report the incident to the police, insisting that the victim would have been rescued earlier. He warned that such situation encourages criminals to perpetrate such acts.
When contacted, Spokesman of the Abia Police Command, ASP Geoffrey Ogbonna said that the police were yet to be briefed about Ezenku’s release by the kidnappers.
