ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The Ebubeagu Security Outfit, has released one Simeon Chinonso Okereke, an indigene of Ogberuru in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State after he allegedly paid the sum of N300,000.
It was learnt that Simeon was whisked away on 22 March, 2023, by the operatives of the Ebubeagu, on the trumped up charge of having conspired with some unidentified people to kidnap his cousin.
Sources revealed that the victim who was whisked away from his compound at Ogberuru on 22 March, 2023, was released on Wednesday, 21 June, after spending 3 months in detention.
A family source who spoke shortly before he was released, said they were looking for money pay for his release.
When asked what the money was for, the wife of Okereke said they were asked by Ebubeagu operatives to pay the sum of three hundred thousand naira (300,000) for the release of Simeon.
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When Simeon was eventually released by the Department of State Service (DSS), the wife who spoke about the payment of N300,000, said: ‘’we are really confused because he was arrested and initially detained by operatives of Ebubeagu Security outfit. But he was release after 3 months in detention by the DSS. We don’t actually know whether it is Ebubeagu or DSS that collected the money we gave for his release.
“They also attempted to assassinate me but I was lucky to escape. Since then we have neither seen nor heard from my husband, while I have also been in hiding with my three female children.
“To our dismay and that of others who are not happy about the wicked plot against us, the same Odinaka who was said to have been kidnapped and killed by my husband and for whose sake he was whisked away, came back home on March, 29, 2023, seven days after they took my husband away.”
She continued: “The irony of it all is that Odinaka who was said to have been kidnapped and killed by my husband and for whose sake my husband has been detained by Ebubeagu militia since 22 March, has been in his father’s house since he came back.
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“He has also been walking about freely, while my husband’s whereabout has remained unknown since then’’.
The distraught woman called on the security agencies, the state government and men and women of goodwill to come to her aid.
“I have been in hiding with my children since then, while they have taken possession of our Suzuki ladies motorcycle, lands and other properties.
“We need assistance to enable us go back to our community now that it has been confirmed that Odinaka who was used as a ploy to get at us is not dead as mischievously claimed. They did it to get rid of us and appropriate our properties,” she lamented.