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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
Justice has been served in the case of kidnapping preferred against 40-year-old Blessing Ngozi Abia, from Imo State, who stole two kids in Ebonyi State after disguising as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
On January 21, 2024, the lady, pretending to be a corps member, gave her name as Mercy Francis (a fake name) when she approached a landlord for accommodation at Nwezenyi, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. She then paid six months’ rent to the owner of the apartment.
The landlord and his family as well as other tenants in the compound did not have the slightest inkling that their new neighbour was actually a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
She played a good person and was always seen playing videos with her phone to the children in the compound, which made everyone to feel at home with her.
A few days later, she requested that two kids: Ngozi Nwibo, seven, and Chinaza Nwachukwu, three, accompany her to buy recharge cards at the Nwezenyi Junction, from where she subsequently made away with children.
The parents of the children, who waited for their return till night, reported the incident to the police, who launched an investigation into the matter. Fortune smiled on the parents of the two children as they were recovered after three weeks.
The children were in good health when they were rescued and reunited with their families.
One of them, Ngozi, was rescued at Oba, Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State, on April 4, 2024. In the process, the kidnapper was arrested and brought to Ebonyi State Police Command’s headquarters in Abakiliki.
Following her confessional statement, she was taken to Lagos State where the second victim, Chinaza, was also rescued, but the woman who bought her escaped arrest.
Chinaza’s parents were overjoyed after she was reunited with the family. Relatives, friends and well-wishers thronged their residence to rejoice with them. Mr. and Mrs. Simon Nwachukwu expressed gratitude to God for the rescue of their daughter.
Simon Nwachukwu said that they spent a huge amount of money in the process of police investigation and recovery of their daughter but nothing could be traded for the life of their little daughter.
He called on the wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs. Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, and relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure that justice prevailed with regard to those involved in the dastardly act, to serve as deterrent to others.
On their part, the parents of Ngozi Nwibo, Mr. and Mrs. Okechukwu Nwibo, while thanking God for His wonderful works, expressed appreciation to friends, relatives and well-wishers for their prayers, financial support and encouragement during their period of trial.
Also, the landlord, Mr. Francis Nwankwuda, who gave accommodation to the lady, was thankful to God over recovery of the children.
He further thanked God that he was released after more than two weeks in detention as the police investigated the matter. For him, God clearly vindicated him, thereby proving that he had no hand in the kidnap of the children.
“I am happy that I have been vindicated. I was detained by the police over this matter that I knew nothing about. I was in detention for more than two weeks. I thank God for vindicating me. How can I kidnap children that are living in my compound, how can I do that?” he queried.
A teacher at the Special Science School, Igbeagu, in Izzi LGA, Sebastine Obiya, who was on hand to celebrate with the parents of the rescued children, advised parents and caregivers to be vigilant at all times and ensure that their children were always in safe hands.
He also advised landlords and caretakers of residential buildings to always verify the identity of anyone in search of apartment before giving them accommodation.
“What is happening nowadays is very terrible. Parents should be paying special attention to their children; they should stop trusting anyone that they don’t know very well when such a person is with their children.
“These two kids would have been gone, if not for God, because their parents were careless. You don’t allow your children to follow anyone anywhere when you don’t know the person very well, his or her background and everything.
“We thank God that it ended this way, which should teach every parent a lesson,” Obiya said.
Meanwhile, having been grabbed by the long arm of the law, Abia was arraigned by the police at the Ebonyi State High Court, presided by Justice Ruth Oke, in suit number HIB/10c/2024.
The court found the lady guilty of the offence and sentenced her to death by hanging.
“In consonance with the provision of Section 4(2) of the Internal Security Enforcement and Other Related Matters Laws of Ebonyi State, 2009, the defendant, Blessing Ngozi Abia, is hereby found guilty of the offence of kidnapping as charged. Accordingly, she is convicted and sentenced to death.
“The sentence of death given by this court in this case against the convict may be executed by hanging you, the convict (Blessing Ngozi Abia) by neck, till you are dead. May the Lord have mercy on your soul,” the judge declared.
The prosecuting counsel, assistant state counsel, Mrs. Ijeoma Mike- Ajanwachukwu, hailed the judgment. She lamented rampant cases of child theft in the state, saying: “Cases of child stealing are quite rampant in Ebonyi State.
“Many children have been lost. So, if I charge her for child stealing, the law says seven years within the state and if the child is taken outside the state, it is 10 years, before you know it, the person is out and continues the evil acts. So, kidnapping is the best charge for them and kidnapping, under Ebonyi law, is a capital offence.”
On how the victims were rescued, she said: “God saved the children through a nearby POS operator where she (the convict) withdrew some money to aid her plans. Following the alarm, the POS operator disclosed that a lady who matched the description patronised her. So, through the machine, the true identity of the convict, including names and phone number, were retrieved and tracked.”
The lawyer warned parents and guardians against sending their wards on errands late at night.
“Parents are generally careless about their children. If they are more careful, cases of child stealing will be reduced. At times, you see little children at 8pm going to buy matches, moving around the streets all by themselves. It is dangerous. So, parents need to be more careful in handling their children. Being responsible parents, not just parents, will go a long way to reduce the high rate of child stealing/child kidnap in the country,” she said.
