Two suspects, Onyekwere Sunday from Umuokahia in Obingwa Local Government Area and Samuel Ahuchaogu from Umuogele Umuocham in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a female evangelist.

Also in the police net are three men who were nabbed for buying a stolen car.

Abia State Commissioner of Police, Habila Joshak, told newsmen yesterday at the Central Police Divisional Headquarters, Umuahia that Gold Oru, the victim, was abducted while on evangelism at Okpuala Ngwa last Wednesday but was later rescued as the vehicle used in conveying her to the kidnappers’ hideout suddenly broke down and could not move again.

Joshak said upon receiving the information that the woman of God has been kidnapped, his men swung into action and arrested the duo of Samuel and Ahuchaogu while the 55-year-old victim was rescued from a bush in Umuihe village in Osisioma.

However, Ahuchaogu denied involvement in the crime, saying that he received a call from his friend Sunday, and on arrival, met the woman with his friend and others now at large. He said while he was still enquiring about who the woman and insisting on her release, the police swooped on them.

Also, Sunday, whose car was used to carry the victim insisted he was not aware that the woman was kidnapped.

He said he went to collect a concoction a native doctor had prepared for him to solve his marital problems, saying that he had lost his first two wives in mysterious circumstances.

He said people directed him to the native doctor for spiritual solution to his problem, adding that he was going there to collect the third concoction when he met two boys working for his native doctor in his car, a Mercedes Benz 230 with registration number DU 240 AAA.

He said one of the native doctor’s boys first drove the vehicle when it broke down and the police arrested them.

Sunday claimed to be a youth leader in his community and that his traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty, Eze O.J. Ananaba, could attest to his effort in combating crime in his community.

“I didn’t know that the native doctor had another business. I didn't know whether he had used charm on me that led me to this set-up. I am confused,” Sunday lamented.

One of the suspects, who bought a stolen Honda CRV with registration number CE 202 MMA, Chukwuma Egwim, said he and his friend, Chinedu Linus, bought the vehicle from one Chigozie at the cost of N250, 000 and while Linus was driving the vehicle home, he was arrested by the police who told him that the vehicle was stolen. The vehicle belongs to Rev. Fr. Chisom of Umuohiri in Onuimo local government area of Imo State.

Obinna Orji, a driver, also arrested in connection with the Honda CRV jeep, said he was sent by Chigozie to go and collect the balance of the money from Egwim and Linus.

Joshak said investigation into the matter led to the recovery of two other vehicles suspected to have been stolen.

•Photo shows some of the suspects paraded in Umuahia.

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