Pharmacist arrested for conniving with kidnappers to abductor boss

Detectives attached to the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a pharmacist for allegedly conniving with kidnappers to abduct his boss, Mr. Donatus Duru, owner of a multi-national pharmaceutical company, located at Ilupeju area of the metropolis.

Duru was abducted close to his office at Ilupeju on February 14, 2017 and taken to a hideout. His abductors demanded 1million Euro (N500million) for his release.

Although the victim’s family paid N150m, the kidnappers collected it, but insisted that it should be complete up to N500million. They threatened to kill Duru if the money was not completed.

The police alleged that the suspect, Emeka, conspired with other members of the gang led by one Evans to abduct his boss around 8pm on that fateful day.

On Friday, Duru was said to have escape from the kidnapper’s hideout and alerted police detectives at the Lagos State Anti-Kidnapping Unit. The kidnappers stormed the hideout and recovered large cache of arms abandoned by the fleeing kidnappers.

Police sources said that the victim had gone into hiding with members of his family for fear of being attacked again by the fleeing members of the gang narrated.

The police source said: “The victim said that a few days after he was abducted, he overheard the voice of his pharmacist, Emeka, who has been under his employ for long, discussing with his abductors in an adjoining room. He said he heard him asking members of the gang whether they had contacted members of his family. A few days before his escape, the victim said Emeka came and re-assured them that he had signed all the documents for the release of goods worth about N7m from his warehouse and also came the following Thursday to boldly question why they had not killed him as agreed. The kidnappers promised to kill him.”

On Friday, Duru escaped while his captors were asleep. He escaped through the backdoor. He landed in the compound next to where he was held. The security guard in the compound thought Duru was a thief. He would have been lynched, but for the intervention of another man, who listened and believed his story. Duru gave the guard and other men in the compound phone number of his relatives. The caller confirmed Duru’s story. He was taken to Igando Police Station.

Detectives raided the gang’s hideout seven hours later, leading to escape of the gang members. Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, ASP Ifeanyi Iheanacho said he was not aware of the arrest of anybody over the case.