Renowned native doctor Chukwudozie Nwangwu has been freed after a kidnapping ordeal which he has now narrated.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the incident occurred last Sunday when a group of gunmen seized him from his Triple P Hotel in Oba, a community in the Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra.
Two of his security aides lost their lives during the attack.
Sources indicate that Mr. Nwangwu’s family were able to secure his release by paying an undisclosed amount of ransom.
The release has been confirmed by Anambra State’s police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, who stated, “Yes, I can confirm to you that he has been released by the kidnappers.” He, however, said he doesn’t know the circumstances surrounding the release.
In a video statement, Chukwudozie Nwangwu recounted the attack carried out by the gunmen. According to his narration, the incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. when he received a request from someone known as Okey Japan to visit another of his hotels.
“Okey Japan said he wanted to see me because it was his first time coming to my hotel. So, I drove my new car to the hotel without anybody with me. Not up to 30 minutes after I arrived there, gunshots started raining,” Mr. Nwangwu said in Igbo.
The native doctor said the kidnappers killed two of his security men, and others in the hotel fled.
“When I came out to know what was wrong, they began shooting at me, but I know who I am. They subsequently dragged me into their vehicle and zoomed off.
“If I had wanted to run, I would have run, but I had seen people they would shoot at, if I dared to run. What I did was to save the souls of others. I followed them so I would also not be accused of bringing the kidnappers,” he narrated.
The native doctor said he was infuriated by “nonsense” remarks made by several persons on radio and social media after he was kidnapped.
Mr. Nwangwu said the attackers were armed with sophisticated weapons, including rocket launchers and that they were on the lookout for the rich and powerful.
He suggested that the attackers could be part of the group agitating for a sovereign state of Biafra but did not give details.
“They called names of people they would attack later, but I wouldn’t say it myself. Many, about 20, were killed in my presence. They said they wanted to kidnap 50 people.
“Even the sit-at-home we observe, in fact the people are angry. There is something they are complaining about. They want to clear everywhere so that they would be taken seriously,” the native doctor stated.
However, he did not give details of where he was taken to and what transpired where he was kept.
