VAM News Update

THE Police spokesperson also confirmed the demands for ransom but denied knowledge of any such payment by Nwangwu’s family

The native doctor was released by his abductors in the early hours of Saturday
One week after being kidnapped, Chukwudozie Nwangwu, better known as “Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki,” a well-known local doctor in Anambra, has reportedly regained his release after a ransom was paid.

Tochukwu Ikenga, the state’s police spokesperson, verified Nwangwu’s release to The Nation.

Ikenga claimed that in the early hours of Saturday, the native doctor’s kidnappers released him.

Around 11:30 p.m. on July 23, Nwangwu was abducted at Oba in the state’s Idemili North Local Government Area (LGA), while two of his personal assistants were killed by gunfire.

A source, who claimed to be close to the victim, said his abductors demanded for N300million before he could be released.

“His friends rallied round and raised the money for the abductors, but they demanded for an additional N50million, which was also delivered to them, before he was released,” the source said.

The Police spokesperson also confirmed the demands for ransom but denied knowledge of any such payment by Nwangwu’s family.

Ikenga said: “I have information that his abductors have contacted his friends and relatives and are demanding some millions.

“I also have information that his abductors are demanding some specific amount which I have not gotten the accurate figure.

“According to speculation, they said it’s over two hundred and something million, if not N300m.”I also have information that they have not paid, I also have information that he has been released by his abductors and we are making efforts to get information behind what happened.”