By Blessing Iwuala
The people of Ohoba Autonomous Community in Imo State have sent a Save-our-souls to Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun over a plan by a police officer to release a kidnapping suspect in custody.
The suspect, Emma Asso, was arrested by the police following a petition by the community through a law firm, Kelvin Okoroafor & Associates, accusing a police officer, Moses Ogarabe, of compromising the investigation of the kidnap case.
According to the community, the suspect was arrested by the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the state following a tip-off by the Department of State Service (DSS), adding that the suspect has confessed to collecting the sum of N500,000 as ransom from a victim.
The community also alleged that the police officer was trying to release the suspect because they were from the same area.
Onoba community said, “We are living in fear because our lives will be in danger if the suspect and accomplices are released and they will come after us. That is why we are calling on the Inspector-General of Police to prevail on the State Commissioner of Police to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter and bring the culprit to justice.”
They claimed that, during interrogation, Asso, who is from the neighboring Assa community, confessed to receiving a ransom of N500,000 as his share from the kidnap gang. Both Emma and Frank were subsequently handed over to the State Police Tactical Squad Unit, known as the Tiger Base.
However, the community’s representative, Paul Ikechukwu, alleged that the police investigation is now facing a cover-up.
The law firm alleged that Ogarabe has been “frustratingly stifling” the investigation and has threatened community leaders, who raised the alarm that the suspect was about to be released from custody.”
Their complaint further revealed that the victim’s son, Frank, was also handed over to the police as a suspect after the DSS found evidence of communication between him and the gang.
The community’s spokesperson expressed fears that the IPO was planning to release Frank as a ploy to make the victim’s family lose interest in pursuing the case against the kidnapping gang.
The representative also emphasized the high-risk nature of the criminals, stating that the gang was armed with AK-47 rifles and grenade launchers and has allegedly been responsible for the death of four people, whose decapitated bodies were found in the area.
The community is demanding a “total cleansing” and a thorough probe to bring all culprits to justice: “We need total cleansing. We need a discreet investigation. We are calling on the Inspector General of Police, Imo State Commissioner of Police, as well as the DSS, to intervene immediately; arrest all members of the gang and bring the culprits to justice and prevent further attacks on our communities.”
When Daily Sun contacted Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, for his statement on the allegations, he declined to comment on the matter.