Hausa merchant saves 9 year-old boy from kidnapper

Biola Azeez, Umuahia - 01.02.2008

Police operatives in Abia State have arrested a 23-year-old man, Chiemela Godfrey, for alleged kidnap of a nine-year-old school boy of Divine Love Academy , Prince Ahamefula, in Aba.

The alleged kidnapper had offered to assist the boy, who had just closed from school, to cross the road promising to buy books for him.

The boy’s innocence could not detect the devilish intention of his “Good Samaritan”, as he followed him on Okada to Hausa quarters, where the boy was taken to be sold to a Hausa merchant at the sum of N25, 000.

However, the Hausa merchant, Mallam Awaeilu Mohammed, had informed the police authority in Aba , through telephone call of the man who wanted to sell a boy, immediately the alleged kidnapper came with the offer.

Parading the suspect before journalists in Umuahia, the Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ezeozue, said two policemen, already informed, joined the negotiation between the alleged kidnapper and the supposed buyer as interested parties.

He said the two policemen, who disguised in typical Hausa attire witnessed the supposed buyer offering the alleged kidnapper the sum of N15, 000, with a promise to pay the rest with the use of a cheque.