The family source said: “If we knew that they would kill him, we would not have paid the N30 million ransom they demanded from us. Now, what is the use? They collected the money and still killed him. All we have to do now is to prepare for the burial.”
Reacting to the death, the spokesman of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Diaspora, Chief Sonny Louis Okafor said, from investigations made, Nzewi’s captors collected the N30 million and killed him thereafter.
Shock and anguish yesterday trailed the confirmation that a former Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos State, Chief John Nzewi was killed by kidnappers who took N30 million ransom payment from his family. Chief Nzewi, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and current president of Igbos In Commerce, hailed from Nnewi, Anambra State.The deceased was said to have been kidnapped weeks ago during the re-run Senatorial elections in Anambra South district at Ihiala, Ihiala Council Area.His companion (names withheld), who was kidnapped along with him, was reportedly freed on payment of ransom, while the family of Chief Nzewi allegedly, could not immediately raise the N50 million demanded.It was gathered from a close family source that his family and the abductors allegedly later settled for N30 million. The kidnappers took the ransom only to release the corpse of Nzewi to the family.The family has been thrown into shock and mourning, as they found it hard to accept the death of the PDP chieftain. The family source said: “If we knew that they would kill him, we would not have paid the N30 million ransom they demanded from us. Now, what is the use? They collected the money and still killed him. All we have to do now is to prepare for the burial.”
Reacting to the death, the spokesman of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Diaspora, Chief Sonny Louis Okafor said, from investigations made, Nzewi’s captors collected the N30 million and killed him thereafter.Okafor called on the acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Abubakar Mohammed, to come to the rescue of the people.According to him: “We condole with the Nzewi family on this unfortunate incident. The Nigeria police should track down those who killed Nzewi.
Reactions trail murder of ex-Ohanaeze boss
From IJEOMA ONUORAH, Nnewi
Wednesday April 25 , 2012
From IJEOMA ONUORAH, Nnewi
Wednesday April 25 , 2012
Reactions from sympathisers have continued to trail the death of former Ohanaeze Ndigbo boss and PDP chieftain, Chief John Nzewi. Former President-General of Ohanaeze and a kinsman of Nzewi, Chief Dozie Ikedife, who described the circumstances leading to the deceased’s death as worrisome and nightmarish, called for respect for the sanctity of life.
In his words, “Nzewi’s death showed the heartlessness and insensitivity of man. Human life should not be treated as if it amounts to nothing even a baby has the right to exist freely. His death, many deaths like that, are sources of sorrow and anxiety to all right-thinking people. These things never abate entirely. Just when you think they have stopped, they rise up again.
”Everybody that I have spoken with so far on the issue, expressed disgust that even when the man was dead, the kidnappers still insisted on collecting the money, threatening that they will bury the body in a shallow grave if the family didn’t make haste”.
Traditional ruler of Nnewi, Igwe K.O.N Orizu, who spoke through the palace secretary, Prince Joseph Ikeotuonye, also condemned the kidnapping and subsequent killing of a prominent son, saying the town has lost a rare gem.
According to him, “Nnewi people are devastated by this singular act. Nzewi was one of the best Nnewi sons, who brought peace and succor to widows and the less privileged here. We have not gotten through to the family yet, but we learnt that the wife has gone to Lagos to facilitate things.
“It is condemnable that these hoodlums will kill a victim, and still insist on collecting ransom; not that anybody is supporting kidnapping. It is an abomination in our town and in Igboland in general.”
The Igwe however, called for calm as the family needed all the support it can get from well-wishers.
Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian Bar Association, Nnewi branch, the Secretary-General, Murphy Okeke expressed shock over the incident, which he said was heart-rending.
“I wish this scenario vanishes like thin air. I pray it never happens again.”
When the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Emeka Chukwuemeka was contacted for an update on the hoodlums’ he maintained that the state Command was on top of the situation.
Late John Nzewi was kidnapped weeks ago during the re-run Senatorial elections in Anambra South district at Ihiala, Ihiala Council Area. While the family of Chief Nzewi allegedly, could not immediately produce N50 million demanded from them, they bargained for N30 million and on its production, the kidnappers collected the ransom and released the corpse of Nzewi to the family.
In his words, “Nzewi’s death showed the heartlessness and insensitivity of man. Human life should not be treated as if it amounts to nothing even a baby has the right to exist freely. His death, many deaths like that, are sources of sorrow and anxiety to all right-thinking people. These things never abate entirely. Just when you think they have stopped, they rise up again.
”Everybody that I have spoken with so far on the issue, expressed disgust that even when the man was dead, the kidnappers still insisted on collecting the money, threatening that they will bury the body in a shallow grave if the family didn’t make haste”.
Traditional ruler of Nnewi, Igwe K.O.N Orizu, who spoke through the palace secretary, Prince Joseph Ikeotuonye, also condemned the kidnapping and subsequent killing of a prominent son, saying the town has lost a rare gem.
According to him, “Nnewi people are devastated by this singular act. Nzewi was one of the best Nnewi sons, who brought peace and succor to widows and the less privileged here. We have not gotten through to the family yet, but we learnt that the wife has gone to Lagos to facilitate things.
“It is condemnable that these hoodlums will kill a victim, and still insist on collecting ransom; not that anybody is supporting kidnapping. It is an abomination in our town and in Igboland in general.”
The Igwe however, called for calm as the family needed all the support it can get from well-wishers.
Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian Bar Association, Nnewi branch, the Secretary-General, Murphy Okeke expressed shock over the incident, which he said was heart-rending.
“I wish this scenario vanishes like thin air. I pray it never happens again.”
When the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Emeka Chukwuemeka was contacted for an update on the hoodlums’ he maintained that the state Command was on top of the situation.
Late John Nzewi was kidnapped weeks ago during the re-run Senatorial elections in Anambra South district at Ihiala, Ihiala Council Area. While the family of Chief Nzewi allegedly, could not immediately produce N50 million demanded from them, they bargained for N30 million and on its production, the kidnappers collected the ransom and released the corpse of Nzewi to the family.
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