• N350 million allegedly paid as ransom to rescue him
From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Social media popular native doctor in Oba community, Anambra State, Chiedozie Nwangwu alias Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki has revealed that those who abducted him from his hotel and hangout centre were mean and ruthless as they reportedly killed 20 persons in his presence while he was in their captivity.
Nwangwu whose nickname translates to the egg that literally cracked the palm kernel who spoke in his Oba country home yesterday after regaining freedom having spent six days in the abductors’ den also boasted that he possesses protective powers against gunshots which translated to the fact that his abductors couldn’t harm him, claiming that he followed them willingly in order to save many lives that would have been killed in the hotel premises if he had put up any form of resistance.
He confirmed that two of his personal security aides were killed in the encounter, dismissing insinuations that his abduction came as a result of those he collected their money and failed to deliver in his native doctor work as being spread by many while he was away.
“Let me tell you all that happened. While I was in the kidnappers’ den, I listened to radio and saw how people were speaking all kinds of rubbish, so I decided to set the record straight.
“What really happened was that I was there (at home) that day, at around 11:30pm, when someone named Okey Japan called me and said they were at my hotel, and that they were spending money, and had spent close to N300,000, and that they would have wanted me to be around.
“I obliged them and drove to the hotel all by myself, in my new car. No one came with me. I was there, and not up to 30 minutes, gunshots rented the air. People started running helter skelter. I now went out to see what’s happening, and the people started shooting at me.
“They killed two of my security men. I don’t want to reveal much now, but I know that two things can only save a man. If your charms don’t save you, your money will save you.
“Anyone who has charms should have money. So the people took me into their car. If I wanted to run away, I would have ran away, but I have seen those that were shot, and I said if I leave, they will kill many people. A lot of people were lying down, and if I wanted to leave, they would have killed many.
“The story too would have been that the whole thing started when I came in, meaning that I was the one who brought in kidnappers. I decided to follow them to show that my hands are clean. What I did was to save many souls. If you think they took me because I ate people’s money, let me tell you I did not. If I eat your money, come to me I will give you money because I have made money.
“People may be rejoicing that it happened to me, but let me tell you, if the death that killed the rich (Alhaji) encounters the poor, (almajiri) it will crush him.
“This whole thing is related to this sit-at-home people, and they mentioned names of more people they will take, but it’s not something I can say now. They killed many in front of me. They killed up to 20 people in my presence. I did not take anyone’s money, they just came to kidnap and their target is people who have money. They wanted to kidnap as many as 50 people from my hotel that day, but I rather followed them,” the native doctor said.
Before now, there have been stories making the round that his kidnap had to do with many of his patrons who were disappointed that his charms did not work for them after he had collected money from them, thereby seeking a way to get at him and get back their money.
Though Nwangwu kept mum on whether he paid ransom before regaining freedom, sources said that his abductors allegedly demanded for N300 million before he could be released.
“His friends rallied round and raised the money for the abductors, but they demanded for additional N50 million, which was also delivered to them, before he was released,” a source said.
The Spokesman of the Anambra State Police Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed his release, but also kept mum on whether ransom was paid.
“Yes, he has been released and we are waiting to debrief him, with a view to getting his experience and clue of who the abductors are, so that we can go after them,” Ikenga said.
Nwangwu attracted attention when in just one year, 2022, he built and launched two exotic hotels with two other palatial mansions amidst lavish parties and fanfare.
Many blamed his showy lifestyle on social media, where he displays exotic cars, buildings and jewelry, as the reason for his kidnap.
Some others blamed him for being unable to save himself from being kidnapped, even when he has severally boasted of his powers and the potency of his charms.