Italian Embassy writes IGP over threat to national's life

Written by Duncan Monday, 19 October 2009

The Italian Embassy in Abuja has written to the Inspector General of Police, Ogbonna Onovo alleging complicity of the Rivers State Police in the escape of a leader of a gang of assassins who threatened to kill its national resident in Abuja, Mr. Martina Ferruccio Vincent.

Vincent, while on vacation in Italy in August, reportedly received a phone call from an unknown man who told him that he belonged to a gang of assassins and that they have been commissioned to kill him by some unnamed people he had business dealing with.  

He immediately called his police friend in Nigeria DSP Ayuba Babangida who advised that the matter should be officially reported to the police.

On his return to the country on August 24, the assassin called him again and demanded he should pay some ransom or be ready to die any moment as they had his photograph and were tracking his movements. Vincent reported the matter the following day to the office of the IG through the Force PRO where the matter was officially assigned to the FCT Command.

The gang later demanded the immediate payment of the negotiated N1 million out of the N2m they demanded into the UBA account of one Adolphus Uche Aduku orVincent would be killed.

On September 4, N1 million was paid into the account and within two hours, Adolphus Uche Aduku with another accomplice were arrested in Isiokpo branch of UBA in Portharcourt.

It was further learnt that on getting to the Isiopko Police station, Adolphus who is said to be disabled and walks with the aid of crutches led the police to arrest a third member of the gang.

However when the suspects were to be transferred to Abuja, only two suspects were brought.  The Isiopko Police it was further learnt, reported that Adolphus Uche Aduku, the disabled gang leader escaped from police station.