Siblings – Chinwe and Ibiam Igwe – who were kidnapped from their uncle’s home in Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, have been released.
Their release followed the arrest of the gang leader and his collaborator by the police Anti-Kidnapping Squad.
Chinwe (9) and Ibiam (5) were kidnapped about three weeks ago.
An eyewitness, Lawrence Mbachime, said the children were loitering on Amasiri/Amangwu Road when a commercial motorcyclist spotted them.
According to him, the children were released after residents searched the forest between Amasiri and Amangwu communities.
Police spokesman Loveth Odah, who confirmed the development, said the children were freed after men of the anti-kidnapping squad pressurised a member of the gang.
Mrs. Odah added that efforts were on to arrest fleeing members of the gang.
According to her, the freed children were sick and traumatised, and this prompted the police to rush them to the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Abakaliki, on orders of the Commissioner of Police Titus Lamorde.
It was gathered that the children’s grandfather (104), whom the kidnappers cut with machete, later died.