Three suspects have been arrested by the police in Delta state for kidnapping a woman (name withheld) in Obinoba community in Ukwuani local government of the state after they had collected the sum of N2 million ransom and jewelries worth N3m to set her free.
Those arrested are a self acclaimed pastor and wife to the leader of the gang, Franca Okuzu
while the man Celestine Okuzor Nova in whose house the victim was held captive for six days is now at large.
Others are 43 year old Kabi Kester and Henry Owojero aged 42 years while two other suspects , Uche (surname unknown), Chinedu Etudo, and Nweke (surname unknown) are also on the run.
According to a statement by the state police public relations officer DSP Bright Edafe on Sunday, the woman and her children were on the way back from their shop at about 10.30pm of July 19, when three men armed with guns accosted them at the entrance of their house in Obinoba and took her away.
“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 Kabi Kester ‘m’ aged 43yrs.
“Suspect when interrogated, confessed to being a member of the gang that kidnapped the woman”.
Edafe said Kester’s confession led to the arrest of two other suspects Henry Owojero and Franca Okuzor adding that they all confessed to their involvement in the crime and went further to name four others Celestine Okuzor Nova, Uche (surname unknown), Chinedu Etudo, and Nweke (surname unknown) as members of the gang.
Meanwhile, the statement added that police operatives 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.
“During the search, two hundred and fifty rounds of live cartridges concealed in a bag were recovered. The owner of the bag Identified as Omoruyi Osemudiamen, a 46 year old man was arrested and taken into custody.
The state commissioner of police, Wale Abass in his reaction 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.
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