Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of The Sun Newspapers, Steve Nwosu Tuesday appealed to the abductors of his wife, Toyin, to release her.
He made the appeal at his Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos residence, while addressing reporters on the incident which occurred early Monday morning.
A visibly troubled Nwosu described himself as a poor journalist who does not have the N100 million ransom being demanded by the abductors.
He also expressed worries that the abductors were yet to make another contact, after that of Monday in which they demanded N100 million, urging them to release her unhurt so she can return to her family.
“Apart from Monday’s contact they established with me, the abductors of my wife have not made any other calls.
“At the moment, it is deadlocked and they have refused to cooperate.
“I have left everything to God, all I would say is that I am a poor journalist and do not have the kind of money they are demanding,” he said.
Expectedly, the kidnap of Nwosu’s wife has sparked public outrage with many calling on security agencies to live up to their responsibilities.
Foremost journalist, Lanre Idowu who described the incident as terrible and surprising, stated that it was a reminder insecurity still pervades.
He said: “It is terrible and surprising. It is a green reminder that we are still in insecure times.
“It is a call on all to be vigilant and do the needful as brothers’ keepers by sharing useful information.
“It is also a call on law enforcers to be up and doing. A reminder that many people do not want to earn a living honourably.
“I appeal to all the evil doers to change and do meaningful things with their lives, because in the end, they will still pay for their nefarious activities. Crime ultimately does not pay.”
Similarly, lawyer and activist, Giwa Amu condemned Mrs. Nwosu’s abduction, advocating the enforcement of maximum punishment for kidnappers.
“In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person’s will. It is also the crime of unlawfully seizing and carrying away a person by force or Fraud.
“Kidnappers of the wife of Nwosu should be made to face death penalty because of some inhumane treatment which they impose on their victims,” he said, urging the government to act decisively against criminals.
Meanwhile there were speculations in certain quarters that the kidnappers of Nwosu’s wife may be linked to the armed gang that have terrorised commercial banks in different parts of the state.
The speculation arose as a result of the mode of operation adopted by the abductors, which observers fear, appeared similar to those of the bank robbers.
Aside the fact that the criminals attacked about three compounds in the neighbourhood, and carried various weapons which they reportedly shot sporadically; their escape route was the waterways, the channel used by the dreadful bank robbers.
A security source who also expressed similar concerns told The Nation that nothing would be left to chance to fish the criminals out of their hiding place.
“There is every possibility that they could be linked to those bank robbers. Since it has been proven that it was the same group of boys who attacked all the banks and they used speedboat as means of transportation, there could be a link,” he said.
When contacted, the command spokesman, Joseph Offor, a DSP said he was not in the know and could not comment on whether or not, it was members of the same gang.
“I do not know about this insinuation but I will pass it on to the investigation department.
“The command is living no stoned on turned at ensuring that Mrs. Nwosu is rescued from the criminals and reunited with her family,” he said.
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