Idi Masaudu, an eight year-old-pupil of the Islamic primary school at Kpong in the Eastern Region, escaped from a gang that attempted to kidnap him.

Issifu Garba, one of the gang, who prevented the boy from removing a mask on his face, lost grip of the boy.

Masaudu escaped to a nearby house and entered a box and drew the lead over himself and screams from schoolmates who saw the scene, attracted some teachers and elders, who rescued the boy.

Abdul-Rarak, husband of Manya Kaku, Queenmother of Kpong, who cared for the boy, requested the Police at Akropong to intervene in the case.

He said the boy was able to identify his captor, adding that the kidnappers, three women and three men, laid ambush on the path near the School on March 20 and pounced on Masaudu.

A woman who is only known as Ayishatu, resident in Nigeria, allegedly hired the kidnappers.

Garba and the two unidentified men are on the run while the police at Akwapin-Akropong, have arrested Maryama Awudu and Hajia Fatuma Kubora together with Ayishatu, who claimed to be the grandmother of Masaudu.

The Manya krobo Traditional Council, which also reported the case to the Akuse Police indicated that Ayishatu recently arrived at Kpong from Nigeria to learn that her daughter, Hausatu, who she had abandoned in 1978 died in September 2001.

Haussatu was believed to have died of AIDS and left behind the boy, who was seven years old at the time of the mother's death.

Manye Maku through the Manya Krobo Queenmother's Association and the Manya Krobo District Social Welfare Office adopted Masaudu as an orphan and was receiving sponsorship from the National AIDS Commission.

When Ayishatu returned from Nigeria she made clandestine moves to claim the boy and send him to Nigeria.

Otseam Boatey, a linguist to the Konor of Manya Krobo, told the GNA that the development created tension in the area and asked the District Welfare Office at Odumase-Krobo to take a firm decision with the Police at Akropong to ensure that the suspects were prosecuted.

The police have granted bail to the accused persons while investigating continued.