January 14, 2024, will forever remain indelible in the memory of Theresa Anyawu, whose act of bravery led to the arrest of some kidnappers who were taking her in her Lexus SUV, to their den, at Woji, in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The kidnap gang was in a tricycle stationed under the Rumuokoro bridge on, penultimate day, waiting for a potential victim, with a special interest in posh cars.
Unsuspecting Anyawu drove past them, with the three-man gang driving behind in their operational keke. On reaching Woji, they blocked Anyawu’s car.
The woman who is still smarting from the shock of the experience, told policemen that the kidnappers, in a commando-like manner, jumped out of the tricycle, forced her door open, and jumped in, with one of them taking over the steering.
In her statement to the Police, she said, “ One of them took over the car steering and drove off. I didn’t know what came over me. But I found myself struggling with them, in an attempt to open the back door “
Her struggles yielded success, as she managed to open the door and stuck her leg out. The gang member charged with securing her pulled her back, but she had already drawn considerable attention from onlookers, who chased after the vehicle.
On realizing their lid had blown, the gang gathered, abandoned the victim in her car, and took to their heels.
In the process, the mobile phone of a member of the gang later identified as Chinomso Emmanuel, the suspected leader, which fell out of his pocket, was found in the car. The recovered mobile phone led to his arrest and three other suspected members of the gang identified as Prince Dengo, 27; Onyemachi Samuel, 33 and Emeka.
Gang formation However, during interrogation, the suspects were discovered to be ex-convicts who served their respective jail terms at the Port Harcourt Maximum Security Correctional Facility, for various crimes ranging from attempted murder, cultism and bad behaviour.
The suspected leader of the gang, Chinonso Emmanuel, 37, a native of Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, is a father of three who was imprisoned on charges of attempted murder.
He served seven years jail term from 2016, during which period he rose to prominence in the penitentiary and became a ‘korofo’,(. a hostel leader in prison).
One of the suspects, Samuel, said Chinonso used his position to favour those he had plans for.
He said, “When I was released in December 2023, Chinonso, who was released a month earlier, reached out to me to join the new gang. He also reached out to Emeka, who was sent to solitary confinement for bad behavior, in the prison. While in prison, Chinonso offered him membership of the gang and in exchange, he began sharing his rations with him”.
The gang’s areas of operation spanned from Ikwerre Road axis of Port Harcourt, Mile 3 and Rumuokoro, until their arrest.
Two daggers and a machete were reportedly recovered from them. Police sources hinted that efforts were on to recover the locally made gun which the gang said it acquired and kept in the possession of a fleeing member.
