Police operatives in Delta State have apprehended one of the members of a kidnapping syndicate responsible for the kidnap of a Benin base pastor.
The Delta State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Bright Edafe disclosed this in a statement today, 11th January, 2022.
TheFact Nigeria gathers that on Monday, 10 January, the DPO of the Oghara Division, CSP Jimoh Hassan, received credible intelligence from his counterpart of new Etete Division in Benin City, to the effect that a pastor had been kidnapped the day before (Sunday), along with his black coloured Lexus 330 SUV with Reg no KWL 510 BH.
Painstaking technical intelligence-led investigation revealed that the vehicle had been parked along Ibori Road in Oghara. The DPO of Oghara Division detailed and led operatives to the area where the said vehicle was sighted, following which, 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, however, two of the suspects escaped while one of them named Osagie Felix was arrested. Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to his involvement with the kidnapping syndicate.
Osagie further led the police operatives to Freedom View hotel in Oghareki where they had been hibernating. Although the owner of the hotel was said to have aided the escape of the other two suspects, they were led by Osagie to his room, and after a search one cut to size double barrel pistol, six live cartridges and the sum of 410,000 naira, which was part of the 500,000 ransom, were recovered.
The operatives were also led to another room where another double barrel pistol, ten live cartridges and a laptop were recovered. The victim’s vehicle was also recovered and taken to the station, as a serious manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.
Similarly, a patrol team from Eagle Net Special Squad, while on stop and search duty at Maryam Babangida Junction in Asaba, the Delta State capital, on Saturday, 9 January, intercepted a black Toyota Camry car, with Reg. No. ABH 911 GW, with two male occupants, Daniel Anikpe and Chikeluba James Ani.
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 were perpetrators of internet fraud. One of them, Daniel Anikpe, admitted that he got the gun about eight months ago from his friend named Tata whose surname is unknown, and who is currently in Ogwashi-uku prison for an offence of armed robbery.
Anikpe also stated that he bought the gun for 25,000 naira, adding that he purchased it to exert revenge on any of his partners who short change him in the course of sharing the proceeds from their cyber crime activities.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Ari Mohammed Ali, who commended the gallant officers, also applauded the collaborative efforts of the DPO, new Etete Division in Edo State as well as the DPO, Oghara Division, as it was their working synergy that led to the arrest of the suspect.
CP Ali reinstated his commitment and that of the Command in ensuring that Delta State is crime free. He further noted that a crime free Delta State can only be achieved when members of the public partner with the Police.
The State Police chief also appreciated the collaborative efforts of sister agencies who he said have been of immense support to the Command because the Police alone cannot fight crime.
