NELSPRUIT- Police in Mpumalanga are looking for three suspects who allegedly kidnapped and hijacked a family (father, son and daughter) in Kriel on Wednesday, 22 December 2021.

It is alleged that on that day at about 19:00 the victim (husband) went to fetch his wife from work, only to find that she was still busy and returned back home.

After she was done with work she called the husband with no success and decided to walk home. On her arrival she noticed that things were upside down in the house and there was no one home, including their vehicle. Suddenly her cellphone rang and it was her husband’s number. She then answered the phone however it was not her husband but a strange person on the line. The caller then told her that her husband and two kids are with him. He demanded that she deposit R50 000 to release them. She managed to send R10 000.

Today, Thursday, 23 December 2021 at about 06:50 the husband and the children arrived at the police station and told the police that they were kidnapped by three Nigerian nationals who dropped them at Thubelihle location in Kriel and drove off with his vehicle.

Police urge anyone with information that can assist in tracing the suspects to contact Detective Lieutenant Colonel John Malope on 082 441 7591 or they can call the toll free Crime Stop number on 08600 10111.

Alternatively they can send information via MYSAPSAPP which can be downloaded to any smartphone. All information received will be treated with strictest confidentiality and callers may remain anonymous.

Source: South African Police Service