Chinaza Philip-Okoye, whom the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused of being a suspected notorious criminal in Abuja, has admitted to being an armed robber rather than a kidnapper, contrary to the earlier portrayal by the Nigerian Police.
Chinaza made this claim during an interview with the Punch on Wednesday during a parade of criminal suspects at the Federal Capital Territory Police Command.
He recounted the events that led to his arrest and his association with other gang members who are yet to be apprehended.
He emphatically stated, “I want to categorically state that I’m not a kidnapper. I am not a kidnapper. We only patrol at night and collect cars, and we take them to Kano for sale.”
He further explained that on the night of the incident, their intention was merely to rob a man of his car. However, he was taken aback when Yellow, who appears to be their leader, instructed the man to get into the back of the car.
“I didn’t know why he did that, and I couldn’t argue with him, so we were driving to Kano before the police caught up with us in Kaduna, where I was arrested.”
Last Saturday, the Nigeria Police Force presented Chinaza Philip-Okoye to the public as a kidnapper at the Force Intelligence Response Team base in Guzape, Abuja. He was on a stretcher, having sustained injuries from a police gunshot.
In light of Chinaza’s recent admission, it’s worth revisiting a report by Parallel Facts that had previously highlighted attempts by mainstream media, in collusion with authorities and the police, to propagate prejudice and hatred against the Igbo tribe.
Parallel facts revealed on January 21, Sunday, during the ‘Chinaza Saga’ that the individual paraded as a kidnapper in Abuja was actually known as Chukwuemeka Michael.
This information was provided by a Twitter user, @omoelerinjare, who claimed to be Chukwuemeka’s sister.
She clarified that her brother’s real name is Michael Chukwuemeka, and he resides in Umuahia.
She vehemently denied the allegations against him, stating, “My brother is not a kidnapper. He was paid to act as one to dent Igbo’s image; he first contacted me and told me of the gist; I told him not to, but I did not know he later accepted the offer.”
She further added, “My brother is a mechanic in Umuahia, Abia State, and has never carried a gun before; everyone who knows him is in shock. His name is not Chinaza; his real name is “Michael Chukwuemeka.”
The sister also shared a WhatsApp chat with his brother, whom she claimed was being paraded as a kidnapper.
The sister’s statement was not debunked by the police or any other official source until this current report.