by Oge Okonkwo
Christmas in the Okolorie family has turned sour as their two-year-son Collins Okolorie was kidnapped while walking home from school, with his elder sister, Chidera.
Reports revealed that Master Okolorie was a pupil of Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy Nursery School, Nzerem, Ehime Mbano local council area of Imo State.
The kidnapping was said to have occurred at about 9am after the children had gone to school but were told that activities had closed for the year and the Christmas and New Year break had started.
Reports say:
It was also gathered that the two little lads were innocently walking home through what appeared to be a lonely road, when a man and a middle-aged woman, who were riding on a motorcycle, stopped and snatched the boy.
Some sympathisers told newsmen that the cry of Chidera attracted the attention of people, who immediately organised a man-hunt for the fleeing kidnappers.
When journalists called in the school to ascertain the true story of the kidnap saga, theHead Teacher, Rev. Sis. Ify Ifechukwudere, confirmed the ugly incident.
She said: “Our school vacated on Monday, December 9, 2013. It is shocking why the parents of the kidnap victim brought the boy to school on the fateful day.”
At the family home of the Okolories, the aggrieved mother of the missing boy, Mrs. Rosana Okolorie, accused the school authorities of closing without properly informing parents and guardians.
Journalists met a brick wall at the Ehime Mbano Police Division, as the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Mr. Patrick Ugwu, declined to speak on the issue.
Meanwhile, as at the time of going to press, the little boy was still missing and it was not clear if any arrests had been made.