The release of a trafficking/kidnapping suspect, one Nzube (popularly known as Zuma) arrested for the alleged kidnap/ trafficking of 16 year old Amarachi Favour Okoyeigwe and her 15 months old son Munachi, by officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) through the Police is breeding tension and fear in Awka-Etiti community, Idemili South LGA, Anambra State.

Zuma, an alleged notorious cultist, was nabbed for the kidnap/trafficking of Amarachi and her son, Munachi, from Iruowele village, Awka-Eititi, who have been missing since May 8, 2022.

Amarachi’s father, Ogugua and her grandmother, Augustina Okoyeigwe, who spoke to the newsmen in tears on Friday, said Zuma was fingered as the one who tricked the young mother, Amarachi, and her son and took them away, disclosing that the family searched for their missing loved ones for over two months to no avail.

Chairman of Iruowele village , Awka-Etiti, Patrick Nwokeike and the Public Relations Officer, Malachy Udegbunam, narrated that Zuma was tracked by the community vigilante which eventually arrested and handed him over to the Police at Nnobi Police Division where he (Zuma) confessed on tape and video recording, that he trafficked Amarachi and her son Munachi to Ghana and that they will be brought back within three days if he is freed from detention.

The village leaders lamented that Zuma was later handed over to NAPTIP for prosecution and to help recover the missing duo but to their greatest surprise, the suspect has been released on bail while there are indications that he has fled the country.

Expressing worries over the release of the suspect, the village leaders said the entire community is in fear presently because the suspect who earlier bragged that he would come back without qualms may return and attack those who ensured his arrest.

They also wondered what might have become the fate of the missing Amarachi and her son, expressing fears that they might have been killed for ritual purposes since no one had ever heard their voice since their disappearance in May 2022.

They called on the Anambra State Commissioner of Police and Governor Chukwuma Soludo to come to their aid and ensure that their missing children are found alive.

They also want Zuma arrested and punished according to the law while security operatives should ensure that the people of Iruowele village, Awka-Etiti and all those involved in the struggle for justice in the matter were secured.

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