Edward Nnachi
Two sisters have been apprehended by the Enugu State Police Command for allegedly masterminding the kidnapping of their brother, Mr. Friday Chukwu, PUNCH Metro findings indicated on Wednesday.
The two sisters, Juliet Chukwu and Ngozi Nancy Chukwu, are the younger sisters of the victim, who hails from Amaeze village, Ishiagu community, in the Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
PUNCH Metro reports that the two sisters are security agents. An investigation by our correspondent showed that while Juliet Chukwu is an operative of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ngozi Nancy Chukwu is of the Nigeria Immigration Service. However, we are not able to independently verify this as of the time of writing this report.
It was gathered that through the duo’s connivance, Chukwu was kidnapped last month on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway near the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, in the Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State.
And through the sisters’ prodding and subtle moves, it was claimed that the sum of N30m was paid for their brother’s release.
PUNCH Metro further learnt that the two female security operatives orchestrated the abduction of the General Manager of China Oriental Mining Company, Dennis Igwe, in the same area on Monday.
Luck ran out of them when they were traced to a hidden hotel where they were to share the sum of N10m ransom paid for Igwe’s release, and they were arrested.
Commenting on the development on his Facebook Page, on Wednesday, a social media enthusiast, Comrade Chika Nwoba, called on security agencies to take the necessary steps to ensure the matter is not treated with levity.
He said, “News broke in June 2025 about the kidnapping of one Mr. Friday Chukwu along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, an elder brother to Mrs. Juliet Chukwu, who is a Civil Defence officer and Mrs. Ngozi Nancy Chukwu, who is an Immigration officer, all from Amaeze, Ishiagu, Ivo LGA of Ebonyi State. It was alleged that the sum of N30m was paid as ransom before the release of Mr. Friday Chukwu.
“Weeks later, on Monday, 14/7/2025, the CLO of China Oriental Quarry Company, Engr. Igwe Denis Chibueze, was kidnapped along the same route with a demand of N10 million. The stakeholders rallied the sum with a security link and they were trailed to a hotel room where they were sharing the proceeds of their criminal act.
“They have been previously alleged to have (a) link to many criminal activities happening around Ishiagu in Ebonyi State, ranging from conniving with Fulani herders to stage (sic) kidnap along Ishiagu road, looting of railway rails and properties and vandalisation of pipelines among other heinous crimes.
“The source through which they escaped in many of their crimes is still unknown, but the recent case shouldn’t be treated like other of their crimes and the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps and Immigration Service should meet the case with the punishment it deserves.”
The Chairman of Ivo Local Government Area, Ebony State, Chief Emmanuel Ajah, confirmed the arrest of the two sisters to our correspondent, adding that although the two incidents took place outside his jurisdiction, he had written to both the Enugu Police Command and the Ebonyi State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
He said, “Yes. We are aware of the incidents. But, they didn’t happen in my Local Government Area. The incidents took place in Enugu State. The sisters of Mr Friday Chukwu, who is my friend, have been arrested. They said they are six people; so four others are still on the run. I have written to both the Enugu Police Command and the Ebonyi Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. However, our efforts are always geared towards making sure our LGA and the people are safe.”
Efforts to get the Ebonyi State Police Command’s reaction on the matter proved abortive.
The Police Police Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, didn’t respond to our correspondent’s inquiries as of the time of filing this report, on Wednesday.
Also, calls put across to the Enugu State Police Command were neither picked up nor returned.
Its spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, didn’t respond to inquiries on Wednesday.
