The Imo Equity Movement yesterday announced the release, on Monday night, of its kidnapped Secretary, Hon. Bar. Kingsley Ononuju.

“Until his release he was kept in the kidnappers den from Thursday, 29th June 2017 blindfolded and bound hands and feet throughout that period,” the Movement said in a statement issued in Owerri by its Director, Media and Strategy, Tobechi Chigbu.

They also stated: “From his narrative, we understand that the kidnappers trailed and overpowered him at gun-point along Oguta Street, Aladimma Housing Estate in Owerri, at about 8pm on the fateful day. He perceives that he was taken to a location in Ohaji because of the dialect and names of towns he heard as he was driven by the kidnappers that night. He was not brutalised by his abductors who during the early stages of his ordeal insisted that the ransom must be paid in full before he could be released.

“He further stated that the kidnappers constantly expressed bitterness with the negotiator whom they identified as Hon. Uche Onyeagocha for stalling their demands after each call and threatened to pick him up later and to kill. Going further, he said that the kidnappers became very jittery when they saw that an earlier press release by Imo Equity Mandate on the situation had gone viral in the social media which they were constantly monitoring and therefore had to cut further communication with the negotiators.

“He went further to state that the kidnappers constantly complained that the two phones they were using to communicate the negotiators were being tracked each time they placed a call. The two numbers are as follows: 08180007074 and 08187872821. Our security team, who is still working on the details, believes that the phones were likely to be Thuraya phones since attempts to track one returned username simply as – Sugar – with no further background information.”

The movement further declared its position, stating: “Firstly, we are grateful to Almighty God for the blessing of Bar. Ononuju’s safe return to his family and friends as well as to thousands of Ndi Imo from all the three zones for their intercessory prayers and lavish expression of goodwill expressed through the Social Media, Print and Electronic Media, phone calls and personal visitation during the dark and trying period.

“We thank Hon. Bar. Kingsley Ononuju, his family and relations for their resilience in the struggle for equity and progress of our beloved Imo State.

“Bar. Kingsley Ononuju, Imo Equity Movement as well as its members are undaunted by this turn of events. We ask Gov. (Rochas) Okorocha to call himself and his staff to order, particularly Mr. Kingsley Uju his Deputy Chief of Staff in-charge of Operations for his association with self-styled militant groups from across the State.

“Inside information from Government House has revealed much, especially the linkages between government and various hideous groups.

“We still believe that the best option in this situation is to deescalate and reduce the palpable tension in our beloved state created by a small clique of mindless, greedy and Godless characters occupying the Government House who would stop at nothing but to hold on to power interminably.

“We remain committed that in the spirit of Equity come 2019, Owerri Zone will produce the next Governor of Imo State.”

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