Police exhumes body of kidnapped Chinese

Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Abakaliki

The body of a Chinese, Mr. Feng Shenyi, who was killed by kidnappers in 2007 at Owotu Edda in Afikpo local government area of Ebonyi State has been exhumed by... the Police pathologist from Force Headquarters, Abuja.

Mr. Shenyi, a technical partner to Innoson Motor Assemble Nnewi in Anambra State was kidnapped along side two other workers at Innoson plant in 2007 and was taken to a camp at Ekoli Edda in Ebonyi State.

The Nigerian Compass gathered the kidnapper demanded for a ransom of N20 million for the three workers of Innoson (two Chinese and one Nigerian) which was paid but they (kidnappers) released other two and held the Chinese (the deceased).

On a tip-off, according to a source, a combine team of military and mobile police invaded the kidnappers’ camp at Ekoli Edda and arrested about 16 people and took them to force headquarters Abuja in 2007.

But the weekend exhumation by the Police followed another arrest of a suspected kidnapper, Mr. Innocent Orji, last month who on interrogation confessed that when the police invaded their camp he took Mr. Shenyi, the deceased and later killed him and buried him by the roadside at Owotu Edda.

Mr. Chris Ezike, an Assistant Commissioner of Police led the team of investigators and the pathologist, Dr. Willosn Akhiwu, recovered the remains of Mr. Shenyi including bones, skull, rips, shoe and cloths.

Addressing newsmen after, the excavation of body Ezike said that the grave was so shallow which showed that the suspect was in haste and had no time to bury the victim.

“What we have just done now is a step forward in our investigation. There is exhumation and discovery of very vital exhibit. The forensic pathologist will do their job and when they are through they will make informed opinion”.

On how they knew that it was the remains of Mr. Shenyi, Ezike said: “From the event leading to the discovery of this shallow grave and some of the perceived evidences we have, we are convinced we are making progress but you know that this is a specialist thing and not until the analysis is done you cannot make any informed opinion”.

“We are happy, you never say die until you get to where you are going. You are aware that part of this case is in the court and those were reasonable progress made in the past. So, it has been progress, progress but I can describe this as a climax” he stated.

A colleague of the Chinese, Chen Mei, identified the clothes and shoes of the deceased, and expressed joy that his remains were found at last.

Also in an interview with the Nigerian Compass, the chairman of the Innoson Group of Company Mr. Innocent Chukwuma said that he made every effort to save the life of Mr. Shenyi but to no avail.

Meanwhile, a human rights group, United Action against Corruption and Injustice International led by Chief Okosisi Eburu has called the government to use all machinery to ensure justice in the case.

Okosisi stated that with the evidence at hand and the arrest of Mr. Innocent Orji and the exhumation of the body of the deceased all those involved in the case should be brought to book.