Native doctor pays N350 million ransom, recounts kidnappers’ killing of 20
The flamboyant Anambra-born native doctor, ‘Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki’, who regained freedom from his abductors, on Saturday morning, has disclosed that about 20 abducted victims were killed in the kidnappers’ den.
The flamboyant Anambra-born native doctor, ‘Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki’, who regained freedom from his abductors, on Saturday morning, has disclosed that about 20 abducted victims were killed in the kidnappers’ den.
The celebrity native doctor from Oba community in Idemili South Local Council of the state, whose real name is Chidozie Nwangwu, was released after his family members, friends and associates allegedly paid N350 million as ransom.
He was abducted at his palatial hotel, Triple-P by gunmen, who killed his two security guards, on Sunday, July 13, at about 11:30a.m.
According to a source, his abductors demanded N300 million ransom before he could be released.
It was allegedly provided, but they asked for additional N50 million, which was said to have been paid for the widely-believed richest native doctor to regain his freedom.
The Guardian gathered that relations, friends, admirers, and sympathisers trooped to his home to celebrate and share in the joy of his release after six days in kidnappers’ den.
An eye-witness said: “He was released very early on Saturday. He is currently celebrating with his friends and well-wishers in his house in Oba, Idemili South Local Council.”
The State Police Command through its spokesperson, Toochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed his release, said the police would bid time to debrief him for a lead into his abduction.
Ikenga said: “Yes, he has been released. We are waiting to debrief him, with a view to getting his experience and clue of who the abductors are, so that we can go after them.”
Meanwhile, the native doctor has opened up on his travails, dismissing taunts that he could not disappear in the wake of the siege of the unknown gunmen at his hotel.
He admitted that two of his security guards were killed by the kidnappers.
Nwangwu, as he is well known from childhood, said, on Saturday, that he witnessed nerve-wrecking killing of about 20 other victims by the kidnappers at their den.
He said the whole thing was related to sit-at-home order.
According to him, his abductors dropped the names of more people they would kidnap, but excused for time to throw more light.
He stressed that he would have escaped from the kidnappers’ den if he wanted to, but that his abductors would have killed more people if he had ventured.
Nwangwu said: “This whole thing is related to sit-at-home and they mentioned names of more people they will take, but it’s not something I can say now.
“They killed many in my presence. They killed up to 20 people before me. I did not take anyone’s money, they just came to kidnap and their target were people who have money. They wanted to kidnap as many as 50 people from my hotel that day, but I rather followed them.”
He added: “While I was in the kidnappers’ den, I listened to the radio on how people were saying all kinds of rubbish. So, I decided to set the records straight.
“What really happened was that I was at home that day, at around 11:30p.m. when someone named Okey Japan called me and said they were at my hotel, and that they were spending money, and had spent close to N300,000, and that they wanted me to be around.
“I obliged them and drove to the hotel in my new car. I was there, when in less than 30 minutes, gunshots started renting the air. People started running helter-skelter. I went out to see what was happening and the people started shooting at me, but you know…
“They killed two of my security men. I don’t want to reveal much now, but I know that two things can only save a man. If your charms don’t save you, your money will save you. Anyone who has charms should have money. The people took me into their car.”
Nwangwu said he decided to follow his abductors to save people’s lives and prove that his conscience was clear.
