By Gabriel Elozino, Delta
The Delta State Police command has arrested a kidnap suspect along Ibori road, Oghara, Delta State recovering one Lexus SUV and N410,000 ransom money.
According to a statement released Tuesday by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bright Edafe, the arrested suspect was part of a kidnap syndicate allegedly responsible for the kidnap of a Benin based pastor two days ago.
He disclosed that the suspect has allegedly made confessional statement, adding that the police was on the trail of other members of the syndicate and the owner of the hotel where the criminals are hibernating.
He explained that on January 10, 2022 at about 10:30am, “the DPO Oghara Division CSP, Jimoh Hassan received an information from the DPO new Etete Division in Benin City, that on 9/1/2022, a Pastor was kidnapped along with his Lexus 330 SUV with Reg no KWL 510 BH black in colour and that after a painstaking technical intelligence led investigation, it revealed that the vehicle was parked along Ibori Road in Oghara.
“The DPO Oghara Division detailed and led operatives to the area where the said vehicle was sighted. Upon sighting the Vehicle, the Operatives laid ambush and waited for the suspects to show up. Three men later appeared to pick the vehicle and the Operatives rounded them up, but two of the suspects escaped while one of them named Osagie Felix ‘m’ age 36yrs of H & H Ologbo in Edo State was arrested.
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“Upon interrogation, suspect confessed to being a member of the kidnapping syndicate that kidnapped the Benin based Pastor. He led the Operatives to freedom view hotel in Oghareki where they were hibernating. Upon arrival at the hotel, the owner of the hotel aided the escape of the other two suspects and ran away. The suspect Osagie Felix led operatives to his room in the Hotel and upon search, one cut to size double barrel pistol, six live cartridges and the sum of four hundred and ten thousand naira (#410,000) which was part of the Five hundred thousand naira (#500,000) ransom were recovered.”
In the same vein, the police has also arrested two armed robbery suspect along Maryam Babangida Junction in Asaba, recovering one locally made double barrel pistol, three live cartridges, one jack knife and two wraps of substances suspected to be Indian hemp.
Edafe said, “On the 8/01/2022 at about 2230hrs, Patrol team from Eagle Net Special Squad while on stop and search duty at Maryam Babangida Junction in Asaba, intercepted a Toyota Camry car, black in colour with Reg. No. ABH 911 GW with two male occupants namely Daniel Anikpe “M” age 27Yrs and Chikeluba James Ani “M” age 27Yrs both residing at Ulo line shop off Asaba –Ibusa road.
“Investigation later revealed that suspects are into internet fraud and one of the Suspects Daniel Anikpe admitted that he got the gun about eight months ago from his friend named Tata (surname unknown) who is currently in Ogwashi-uku prison for an offence of armed robbery. He also stated that he bought the gun at a cost of twenty-five thousand naira(#25,000). He said in the course of his Cyber crime activities, issues bordering on sharing formula usually emanates with his partners in crime, hence he bought the gun to exert revenge on whoever tries to swindle him of his ill gotten money. Investigation is ongoing.”
