Okorie with family
The menace of kidnapping in the country worsened
recently as an 11-day-old baby boy, Somuadila Okorie, became a victim.
He was kidnapped in Okwuagbala, Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State.
When Saturday Sun visited the community, the father of the
victim, Mr. Emmanuel Okorie, a driver, disclosed that the baby was born
on July 15, 2010 in his absence. He said that he never knew the baby, as
it was kidnapped in the wee hours of July 25, when he was yet to return
from his journey. He explained that a neighbour called him and broke
the sad news.
Okorie said that the kidnappers were yet to make
their demands. He said that he did not know where to look for the baby,
adding that he could not remember offending anyone to the extent of
snatching away the newborn baby.
He said: 'I still cannot believe
that someone could do this to me. What have I done to the person? I am
not a politician and at no time had I been a stumbling block to anybody.
I leave that to God to judge.'
On the effort so far made to
recover the baby, Okorie said that not much had been done, as those in
custody of the baby were yet to contact the family. He volunteered that
the only thing he had done was to report the matter at Orlu Police
Station.
Giving a graphic detail of how her 11-day-old baby was
kidnapped, Mrs. Okorie explained that on that fateful day, her baby had
been restless due to stomach upset. As a result of the illness, she and
her baby could not sleep until it was past 2am. While awake, she said
that she heard strange sounds of movements around their home but as soon
as she fell asleep, unknown people came in through the roof and took
away the tot.
The heartbroken mother explained that when she
woke up and realised what had happened, she started screaming and woke
up people in the neighbourhood. But then it was already too late.
Sobbing, she said: 'How can somebody do this to us? We are poor and wretched, yet they would not leave us alone.'
Mrs.
Okorie said that she suffered before she was delivered of Somadila in a
local maternity home and cursed those behind her predicament.
President
of Okwuagbala Town Union, Chief Olemgbe Ulanma, described the incident
as terrible. He said that such crimes must not be covered up. He
explained that he was in Abuja when he received a call on the matter and
immediately instructed that the matter should be reported to the
vigilante group and police. He explained that a similar incident
happened last year, but the people involved were arrested and are still
in custody.
Chief Olemgbe revealed that he had taken the matter
to the traditional ruler of the community, HRH, Engr. R.A. Obioha, to
find a way of fishing out criminals in their midst.
Efforts by
Saturday Sun to reach Eze Obioha failed, as his palace was under lock
and key. According to a reliable source, the monarch currently lives in
Owerri and is indisposed.
No comments:
Post a Comment