I wasn’t praying at home before I came to Prison. Now, I lead the devotion in the cell.” He said.

The Lagos State Police Command arrested a 27 year old man, Chigozie Egegonye, for allegedly planning the kidnap of his sister, Franca.

Mrs. Franca and her four (4) children were declared missing since April this year, after they were kidnapped at their home located at Mayowa Street, Ago-Palace Way, Okota in Lagos State.

Mr. Chigozie told his childhood friend, Michael Oluchukwu, that his wealth sister was very stingy.

The friend Michael, apparently after planning with Chigozie sent a text message to Franca, demanding N300,000 within 12 hours or risk being kidnapped and killed. Franca however pleaded with him and agreed to pay N50,000.

It was however learnt that Franca was yet to make the payment into the First Bank account (account number 3034268561, account name Chigozie Egegonye) which Michael provided before she was kidnapped with her four (4) children.

Franca’s husband then reported the incident to the Lagos State Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, which led to the manhunt for the suspects.

A police source told Punch that;

“Chigozie (Egegonye) and Michael (Oluchukwu) are childhood friends. After losing contact, they reunited in Jakande Estate, Isolo, where Michael had his workshop.

“On April 13, 2016, Chigozie went to Michael’s shop and told him he had a sister who was so stingy that each time he demanded money from her, she wouldn’t give him. He asked him to send a threat message to her on the phone.

“They told the woman how she normally took her children to school every day. They said she should pay N300,000 within 12 hours or risk  being eliminated together with her four children.”

Another person said that Franca’s husband got home only to discover that their apartment was empty.

“The man got home on that day and discovered that his wife and the children were missing, including his two cars. He found the house scattered and all the luggage of the wife and children taken away.

“The man said he received a text message from his wife detailing the death threat she received. He said he called his in-laws to tell them he had not seen his wife and the children and they told him to go and find her. All of them thought he masterminded the kidnap of his wife and children.”

After reporting to the police, investigation revealed that Chigozie and Michael were behind the kidnapping, after the police used the account number and phone number of Michael to track him down.

Chigozie however denied kidnapping his sister, he noted that the sister and her husband always had quarrels and she wanted to quit.

“My sister and her husband are rich, but they always quarrel in the house. She had wanted to quit the marriage, but I begged her. My sister fears a lot.  I and my friend sent a threat message to her line and she used that opportunity to run away from the house. I blame myself for everything that happened. I am now repentant. I wasn’t praying at home before I came here. Now, I lead the devotion in the cell.” He said.