Chinaza Philip-Okoye, a suspected kidnapper recently apprehended by the Nigerian police on Friday, January 19, took an unconventional approach during his public presentation in Abuja.
Rather than conforming to the usual solemnity of such proceedings, he commenced his statement with a lighthearted greeting to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria before refuting the allegations of kidnapping that were levied against him.
The individual, apprehended in Abuja, asserted that he was involved in car robbery, not kidnapping.
The arrest occurred in Kaduna, where a joint team of FCT and Kaduna police officers intercepted the suspect and his gang members while transporting an alleged kidnap victim, Segun Akinyemi, from Abuja to Kano.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, January 24, at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, Chinaza insisted on clarifying his criminal activities.
He claimed that he and his gang specialize in stealing cars and selling them in Kano.
Prefacing his statement with a comedic introduction, he stated, “Anything I say today, let it be recorded. I know some people will say I am lying. The only thing I am going to say is the truth and nothing but the truth.”
He then emphatically denied being involved in kidnapping, saying, “Between God and man; the God that created Heaven and earth. I’m not a kidnapper. I haven’t kidnapped anybody.”
Upon further questioning, Chinaza provided details about their criminal activities, explaining, “We only patrol at night and collect cars, and we take them to Kano for sale.”
He recounted the specific incident leading to his arrest, stating, “That night, we aimed to rob the man and take his car, but I was surprised that after we collected his car, yellow, who is like our leader, asked the man to enter the back of the car. I didn’t know why he did that, and I couldn’t argue with him, so we were driving to Kano before the police caught up with us in Kaduna, where I was arrested.”
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