Delta State Police Command says it has arrested three suspected Kidnappers.
The Public Relations Officer of the Command,DSP Bright Edafe in a statement on Sunday August 6,2023 explained that on 19/7/2023, a case of kidnapping was reported at Obiaruku Police station, the distress caller (name withheld) stated that on their way back from their shop at about 8:30pm of the same date, three masked men armed with guns accosted them at the entrance of their house located at Obinoba in Nkwani LGA and kidnapped the mother.
He stated that sequel to the complaint, the Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass detailed the DPO Obiaruku Police Station to work in synergy with the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber-Crime Squad (SAKCCS) to immediately launch a manhunt for the hoodlums and rescue the kidnapped victim.
According to the Police spokesperson, on 26/7/2023, the kidnappers released the victim after collecting a ransom of Two Million Naira (#2,000,000) and other jewelleries worth about Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (#3,500,000).
“Armed with relevant information, the command embarked on an intelligence-led investigation which paid off when on 4/8/2023, the operatives arrested one Mr Kabi Kester aged 43years. Suspect when interrogated, confessed to being a member of the gang that kidnapped the woman(name withheld). His confession led to the arrest of two other suspects namely Henry Owojero ‘m’ aged 42years, and Miss Franca Okuzor a self-acclaimed pastor and wife to the leader of the gang named Celestine Okuzor Nova (at large) in whose house the victim was held captive for six days. They all confessed to their involvement in the kidnapped and named four others Celestine Okuzor Nova, Uche (surname unknown), Chinedu Etudo, and Nweke (surname unknown) as members of the gang. An intensive manhunt for the other gang members is ongoing” he said.
In the same, on 3/8/2023 at about 4pm, Police operatives attached to Dragon Patrol while on visibility and confidence-building patrol along Benin/Asaba Expressway at Issele-uku, intercepted a commercial Sienna vehicle and subjected the passengers and their bags to a search.
DSP Edafe disclosed that during the search, two hundred and fifty (250) rounds of live cartridges concealed in a bag were recovered.whlle the owner of the bag Identified as Mr Omoruyi Osemudiamen age 46years was arrested and taken into custody.
In another development, DSP Edafe revealed that acting on a tip-off, on 3/8/2023, a combined team of Bufallo and Eagle-Net Special Squad of the command stormed summit road in Asaba and arrested one Mr James Moro aged 23years, and a locally fabricated pump action gun was recovered from him.
He said investigation later revealed that the suspect uses the gun to rob innocent persons at night along that axis.
Meanwhile CP Wale Abass has called on members of the public not to relent when they face any security challenges urging all to trust and report cases of kidnapping and other related issues to the Command and trust that the culprits will be arrested and prosecuted.
