Cumuto housewife snatched from home

A 46-year-old Cumuto housewife was kidnapped Wednesday night, when two gunmen stormed her home and demanded cash and jewelry. At around 8 pm, Vera Lopez was at her Cumuto Main Road home, when she heard a loud noise. On checking, she was confronted by two men armed with guns. Lopez told the gunmen she did not have any cash and jewelry, but she was subsequently bundled into a car. She has not been seen since. When Newsday visited the victim’s home, relatives refused to be interviewed. A yellow curtain with strings was used to shield relatives from the media.

One relative said he was advised not to say anything to the media as that could compromise the safety of the victim. Neighbours of the kidnapped woman said Lopez is not a rich person, and they expressed shock that kidnapping had now reached their quiet agricultural village. AKS officers told Newsday they are working on several leads in the kidnapping, and are hoping to make a breakthrough shortly. Lopez is the 18th person to be kidnapped for the year. Up to yesterday, five victims were still in the hands of kidnappers. They are Chris Elves of Curepe; Ravi Maharaj of Lange Park, Chaguanas; Barlow Maharaj of El Socorro; Imran Hosein of Tacarigua, and Vera Lopez of Cumuto.