- 5-yr-old Adanna Ezike was allegedly abducted by a family friend at Ovoko, Igbo-Eze South LG of Enugu state
- Police arrest boyfriend of the suspect, even as the victim, suspect are nowhere to be found
- Father of the victim appeals to the public to help in recovering daughter, whom he believes is still alive
For the family of Nnamdi Ezike of Aku community, Igbo-Etiti, October 3, 2024 is indeed a black Thursday for them.
It was the day his daughter, Adanna was allegedly “kidnapped” by a family friend at Isiuja Ovoko, Igbo-Eze south local government area of Enugu state.
Narrating the ugly incident to our reporter, the father of the victim, Mr. Nnamdi Ezike told WITHIN NIGERIA that he was yet to recover from the sad incident.
“Each time I came back from work, my wife usually told me that there was a lady who came to our shop to relax and have good time with them and some children in my area. I didn’t see the lady myself but she usually told me that the lady was very much friendly with many children in the area and more especially Adanna, my daughter. I always advised her to be careful with strangers around.
“However, the relationship between the lady and my family members grew so much so that the lady usually came to our shop and slept. She literally became part of my family, though she is from Calabar, Cross River state.”
Narrating further, Mr. Ezike told WITHIN NIGERIA that “on that fateful day, my wife told me that the lady came to our shop and slept as usual. After sleeping, she went out and came back again. For several times, she was going out and coming back. After some time, she told my wife that she (the lady) needed to plait my daughter’s hair as it was already old. But my wife told her that she(my wife) would do it when she had chance for it.”
Explaining further, he narrated that “after a while, she told my wife that Adanna should follow her to buy pepper soup for my wife which she(my wife) obliged. Few minutes later, my wife became worried that my daughter was yet to return. My wife went to the pepper soup shop but could not see either my daughter or the lady. The worst thing is that my wife does not even have her phone number, neither does my wife know her real names. Till now, we have not seen both of them. That was how she ran away with my five year old daughter.”
Mr. Ezike told WITHIN NIGERIA that when his wife called him that fateful afternoon and told him what happened, he quickly rushed down to her shop and immediately reported the incident to the Divisional Police Headquarters, Ibagwa-Aka.
Asked what was the response of the police, he stated “the owner of the Cool End hotel, Isiuja Ovoko, Igbo-Eze South local government area where the lady has been lodging for months has been arrested by the police. During initial interrogation, he denied having anything to do with the lady. But, later he admitted that the lady is his girlfriend, yet he has not provided her phone number or any of her details. The police said the case will be transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department, CID for further investigation and possible prosecution.”
On whether he suspected that the lady might have used the girl for ritual purpose, Mr. Ezike told our reporter that “with the kind of love she has for my daughter, I doubt if she wanted to use her for money rituals. On the hand, I was thinking she wanted to take my daughter to her place to stay with her, but she knew that if she has told my wife, she will not agree. But you know, from all indications, she has ulterior motive all this while she has been staying with us.”
Also when asked if anybody has contacted them for payment of ransom to suspect that the daughter is now in the hands of kidnappers, the visibly troubled father told WITHIN NIGERIA that he or his wife or any of their relations or friends has not received such call from anybody.
Mr. Ezike lamented that the incident happened, his family has been in anxiety, pains and agony. He told our reporter that he is yet to decide whether to use other legal and spiritual means to know the whereabouts of his daughter. He further pleaded with the general public that if they had any information that could lead to the recovery, they should his phone number, 07016701195.
In any case, all efforts to get the comment of the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Enugu state police command, Daniel Ndukwe proved abortive as he was not picking his calls.