VICTIM HELD 10 HOURS IN TAXI (MIRROR, LEAD STORY, APRIL 17, 2010)

From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.

After posing as Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) operatives, two middle-aged men and their accomplices in Kumasi allegedly succeeded in kidnapping a young man and demanded a ransom of GH¢5,000, threatening that the victim would not be released until the ransom was paid.
It was not until the family had raised GH¢1,200 as part payment that the supposed BNI operatives released their victim, who had by then spent 10 hours in a taxi they had used for their operation.
Mohammed Aminu, 41 , a petty trader, and Alhaji Musah Muhammad, 41, a businessman, were arrested and have been remanded in prison custody, pending further investigations .
Moments after Aminu had been arrested, and information about his arrest got to Musah, he quickly went to the family of his captives and returned the ransom he earlier collected, but police arrested him afterwards. 
Two of their accomplices who have been identified as Joe and ‘Sunsum’ are at large, and police are looking for them to assist in their investigations.
The suspects pleaded not guilty to charges of impersonation, conspiracy to kidnap and kidnapping, during their first appearance before a Kumasi High Court presided over by Justice R.C. Azumah.
Briefing the court, a State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, said around 4 a.m on December 29, 2009, Aminu introduced himself to Lance Corporal Fuseini Konlan of Asawase Police Station as a BNI operative and requested the policeman to assist him arrest a complainant.
The State Attorney explained that the suspect succeeded in convincing the policeman that the complainant was wanted for his involvement in the Bawku crisis but he had escaped to Kumasi.
He said by then, the suspect was in the company of two others who were identified only as Joe and ‘Sunsum’.
He said based on the information the policeman received, he accompanied the suspect and his accomplices to Dechemso in Kumasi, where they succeeded in arresting the complainant, a cola nut dealer at Asawase, a Kumasi suburb, around 5 a.m.
According to Mr Otoo-Boison, after the complainant was arrested, he was handcuffed and informed that he was being taken to the BNI office at Ahodwo Roundabout .
He said the policeman, however, alighted at the Suame Roundabout to enable him carry on with his official duty, but as soon as he alighted, the suspect and his accomplices kept the complainant captive in the taxi.
He said moments afterwards, Aminu engaged the services of Musah to negotiate with the family of the complainant for a ransom of Gh¢5,000.00 before the complainant would be released.
He said after a marathon negotiation, the family agreed to pay GH¢1,200 as part-payment and the complainant, was released around 3 p.m, after the suspect and his accomplices had received the part-payment.
The State Attorney said the complainant lodged a report with the BNI Office in Kumasi and based on the report, Aminu, who masterminded the operation, was arrested.
He said as soon as Musah heard about the arrest of Aminu, he quickly arranged with the family of the complainant and returned the money he collected from them, but the police later arrested him.
He said police are also hunting for the other accomplices – Joe and ‘Sunsum’ - to assist in their investigations.