Former Ohaneze Ndigbo secretary rescued after being kidnapped in operation planned by his driver

FORMER Ohaneze Ndigbo general secretary Chief Nduka Eya has revealed that his driver masterminded his recent abduction by a group of kidnappers last week as part of a plan to extort an exorbitant ransom from him.

Last Thursday, Chief Eya was kidnapped but was rescued in a forest in Emene, near Enugu by a team of policemen who stormed the den of the kidnappers at about 10am. Narrating his ordeal at his house in Enugu, yesterday, Chief Eya said  he was kidnapped around 9.30pm on Thursday when he was about to take his coffee before going to bed.

He alleged that the kidnappers, apparently working with his driver, came into the compound through the main gate, which the security guard had earlier wanted to bolt. However, the driver told him not to, as some visitors were being expected.

Chief Eya added: "My driver was part of it as they said he brought the business. I can tell you, the police, when they want to work, they work. 

"I was tortured, I was beaten and the driver was there, they beat him too but I don’t know if it is the same type of beating they gave me. One funny thing is that for three days I was blindfolded but they didn’t blindfold the driver."

He added that three of the kidnappers walked into his main building through the kitchen door with the driver who they were beating to give the impression that he was not part of the plot. Chief Eya revealed that the kidnappers demanded N25m before it went  down to N2m, even as he kept reminding them that he is a poor retiree and had no such money.

Enugu State Police Command spokesman Ebere Amaraizu, said Chief Eya was rescued in a forest  along the Enugu/Abakiliki Expressway during which one suspect identified as Chibundu Amadi was arrested. He added that Mr Amadi was armed with a locally made gun and he is helping the operatives in investigations, while the rescued victim has re-united with his family.