The Police have arrested seven members of a notorious kidnapping gang that allegedly kidnapped Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Justina Tanko and killing a businessman, Chukwubuikem Ezenkwu in Onne area of Rivers State.
The suspects were arrested by Operatives of the Inspector -General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) after they abducted Tanko at a popular eatery and collected N 5 million ransom before she was released.
The police identified the suspects as; Keenom, alias Imota Voonu, Yakubu, Afangide, Keliaga, Barindom and Barinaa who the police said were terrorising the people of the state, especially Onne axis .
Police sources disclosed that the suspects ran into trouble after Ezenkwu’s family wrote a petition to the Inspector -General of Police Ibrahim Idris, detailing how he was kidnapped in May 2018 and a ransom of N2.7million was paid for his release but his abductor failed to release him.
It was gathered that the IRT operatives, headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, discovered that, the suspects had killed Ezenkwu who they kept in captivity for 35 days.
A source explained that Ezenkwu’s corpse was dumped in Onne River and the kidnappers went on to kidnap, Tanko. A security guard at the eatery she patronised in Onne informed the gang members that she was a rich woman.
The source added that Tanko was kidnapped, beaten and kept in captivity for five days before a ransom was paid. ” The man who masterminded her kidnapping was someone she has been very kind to. She usually gave him tips whenever she visited the eatery “.
Keenom said:” I am a hunter. SK was the person that organised the kidnapping of Ezenkwu. He was the person that brought the guy number. He told us that the guy was a businessman and that he was sure the guy would bring money.
SK was the person that called the guy and he came out and met us at Onne IITA Road, where we kidnapped him. we kept him in the bush and he spent one month with us. We tied his legs and hands with a rope. I was the person who was feeding every day. When he fell sick I treated him and I bought drugs for him.
We collected N2.7million from the man’s brother. I was the person that collected the money at Onne Truck Park. I went to the town but on my return to the camp, I learned that the man has died.
Our gang leader, SK suggested that we should dispose of the body inside the Onne River. We shared the money and I got N500,000. After that, we went for a robbery at Nirabet shop, before we kidnapped the customs woman and collected a ransom of N2.7million.
