Following the ongoing investigation about the involvement of a Monarch in the Kidnap of a former Accountant General of Imo State, and a retired army General from Ideato, whose where-about has remained unknown till date, after collecting huge sum of money as ransom, it has been revealed that the owner of the foreign bank account was killed.
A family source who pleaded anonymity said, the perpetrators of the heinous act accosted the victim where he was buying some items at Orji and bundled him into a waiting vehicle. When he was eventually contacted by the family alongside his abductors, part of the ransom was paid into a Filipino bank account while the second one was paid into Filipino account.
In the case of the retired army General, the suspects who confirmed that he was involved in the kidnap of the former Accountant General also exposed the Monarch as the person who provided them with the arms and ammunition they used for their operations and that the person who owned the Filipino bank account into which the ransom was paid was killed when he came home to ask for his own share of the money which was reportedly paid in hard currency.
This, according to some Imolites has necessitated the need to investigate the activities of some high profile individuals who display intimidating wealth and affluence without commensurate or identifiable means of livelihood. They are also wondering if it is this same syndicate that is responsible for other kidnap incidents in the state.
Commenting on the development a lawyer who does not want his name in print said “the involvement of a respected traditional ruler in such a heinous crime has not only dented the image of his colleagues but also necessitated the scrutiny and monitoring of what they do behind the high walls of their revered magnificent palaces where kidnap victims can be kept for months without people suspecting anything because of the regard they erroneously have for the Monarchs, who, without their knowledge is are criminals”.
Others who spoke in the same vein noted that they have always had the notion that most kidnap incidents in the state just like the activities of terrorists in the North East and North Central are sponsored and encouraged by high profile individuals including security operatives who benefit from the proceeds or outcome depending on the motive. The ugly incidents may be politically or economically motivated”.
