The beginning
Friend or foe this is the question on everyone’s lips after hearing of the death of Mr Joshua Megwa, a father of three who was killed on the 30th of December 2022, just a few days into the new year.
Mr Joshua Megwa who is a native of Ezedibia Emekuku Owerri in the Imo state travelled home with his wife and family to visit his mother. “A visit no one knew will end up being a mourning for the family,” said Mr Joshua’s sister.
According to the deceased wife (Mrs Joshua), on the 30th of December 2022, after breakfast, Mr Joshua her husband received a call from a friend named Chetachi Dike, who is known to the family. The wife claimed that her husband (Mr Joshua) explained to her that Cheta was the one who had just called him (Joshua) to help him finish a building project, just for one hour since both of them are into building construction. Never did she know that it will be the last time she will be seeing her husband, the father of her kids.
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After some hours, the wife who was expecting her husband back home called her husband’s number and it was switched off. Suddenly, she received a phone call, from an unknown individual who claimed that her husband has been kidnapped and they wanted 5 million Naira for ransom. however, the caller’s voice was unknown but the number called with showed the name Cheta through the help of the Truecaller app on her phone Mrs Megwa said.
The wife busted into tears, calling all the relatives about the money, few days into the new year when everyone was expecting good news, the family was plunged into sorrow and the quest to look for how to raise the money the kidnappers were demanding for was another enigma that needed to be solved.
The bargain…
However, Mr Joshua’s mother took over the negotiation from Mrs Joshua and begged the kidnappers to collect 1 million, and after several reluctances, the kidnappers agreed. After the negotiation, Mr Joshua’s mother and wife kept begging to hear Joshua’s voice but the kidnappers disagreed, claiming that until they get the ransom. Nevertheless, the question on their lips is where was Cheta when this incident happened. And why did the strange number the so-called kidnappers used to contact the wife display Cheta on Truecaller for the first time? However, the wife of the deceased claimed that after that first time, the kidnappers called with the line that showed the name Cheta. they didn’t call with the first number again but started using a totally new number to communicate with them about the ransom.
The only thing on the family’s mind was how to raise money and save Mr Joshua, this quest to raise money fill their mind in addition to threats from the kidnappers, who had warned them against informing the police unless Joshua will be killed. The quest to find the ransom money the family claimed had made them run up and down that they didn’t even ask some relevant questions when they saw Cheta who claimed that he had escaped when his friend Joshua was taken away and he is ready to add to the money the kidnappers demanded, at the long run Cheta added 210,000 Naira to the money they wanted to pay the kidnappers and even volunteer to take the money to the kidnappers and assured the family that Joshua is alive. However, Joshua’s family disagreed with Cheta going to pay the ransom.
The payment
After paying the 1 million for ransom, the family expected the release of their son, however waiting for so long, the number the kidnappers use in communicating with them became switched off. The family informed the police about the issue and this is where they met the shock of their lives.
The police in Owerri Headquarters claim that the case has been reported since Friday when Mr Joshua got missing and that the person who reported the case stated that Mr Joshua is dead. The family was surprised as none of the family had reported to the police. On asking the police who reported the case the police claimed that it was Mr Joshua’s friend Cheta who had reported the case and also claimed that Mr Joshua was dead. And it was also discovered that Mr Joshua’s car was driven to Cheta’s house by Cheta on that faithful Friday.
However, Cheta a native of Mbaise has been arrested and the investigation is still ongoing. The question on everyone’s lips in Ezeddibia Emekuku where Joshua Megwa is asking is did Cheta kill Joshua? If yes why did he kill him? Even when the evidence is pointing straight at Cheta the family is patiently waiting for the police to conclude their investigations said Joshua’s sister. And find out if Cheta is a friend or foe. Joshua Megwa’s dead body was found on Tuesday in a forest close to Umuguma estate Owerri.
