CP Ari Muhammed Ali
* Recover arms and ammo plus ransom cash
By Jon Egie
The Delta State Police Command yesterday arrested a member of a 3-man kidnap gang that was involved in the recent kidnap of a Benin based Pastor.
The Pastor was kidnapped along with his Lexus 330 SUV with Reg no KWL 510 BH black in colour .
A release issued by the Command’s PPRO, Bright Edafe said on Monday, January 10, at about 1030hrs, the DPO Oghara Division CSP Jimoh Hassan received information from the DPO New Etete Division in Benin City, about the kidnap of the cleric, the previous day.
A painstaking technical intelligence led investigation, 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.
Upon interrogation, suspect confessed to being a member of the kidnapping gang 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 . 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 placed on their victim were recovered.
Suspect also led the operatives to another room where another double barrel pistol, ten live cartridges and a laptop were also recovered.
The Victim’s vehicle was also recovered to the station. Serious manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.
In a related development, at about 2230hrs of Saturday January, 8 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.
After a painstaking search was conducted on the suspects and the vehicle, one locally made double barrel pistol, three live cartridges, one jack knife, two wraps of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, one Samsung Galaxy, one Iphone, two black berets, a driver’s license, one GT bank ATM card, one hand chain and five finger rings were recovered.
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), adding that in the course of his Cyber crime activities, issues bordering on sharing formula usually emanate 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 on the matter is ongoing. The release added.
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