Unidentified gunmen have kidnapped the mother of Ikechukwu Amaechi, the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of TheNiche Newspapers, Madam Appolonia Amaechi.
The kidnappers are said to be demanding 20 million as ransom for the 79-year-old women, a retired teacher, who was abducted on Tuesday, March 3.
Her son Ikechukwu, who narrated the incident to journalists disclosed that his mother was forcefully taken from her home at Ahiazu in Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State around 8:30 pm.
“It is true. My younger sister called and she was crying. I asked what the issue was, and she said that they kidnapped my mother in the village.
“That my mother had just finished dinner and was in the living room watching television when three men with guns and faces covered came in and went straight after her.
“That she was crying and shouting, and they bundled her into a car they drove into my compound and left.
READ ALSO: Mother-in-law of Katsina Governor kidnapped on Election Eve
“My younger brother’s wife, my young cousin in SS3, among those to sit for WAEC this year, and my cousin, a school principal were around.”
The former editor of Daily Independent Newspaper also confirmed that the kidnappers have contacted the family through his sister-in-law’s phone which they took when they stormed the residence.
“It was the phone they used in calling me the following day that they wanted to talk to me. I said okay. They confirmed that they were kidnappers and have my mother.
“They said I should talk to her. I spoke to my mother and asked where she was. She said that they were inside the bush and that the Tuesday night rain fell on her.
“She said at a stage, they gave her umbrella as a shade. I asked if she had eaten anything, she said that they gave her N100 cracker biscuit.
“So, they took the phone and told me that if I want to see my mother, I should bring N20million. We’ve been talking since then and I have informed the security people. That is where we are.”
