Nkasi Paul Okolie
A female pastor, Franca Okuzor, and two other male suspects including Kabi Kester,43, and Henry Owojero,42, have been arrested over alleged kidnapping in Obinoba, Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State.
Their female victim was kidnapped at gun point on July 19 and released on July 26 after the distraught family parted with N2 million and jewelries worth N3.5 million as ransom.
But through an intelligence-led investigation by the police, Kester was arrested on August 4, and his confession led to the arrest of Owojero and the female pastor whose husband, Celestine (now at large) is believed to be the leader of the gang of kidnappers.
Delta State Public Relations Officer(PPRO) o, DSP Bright Edafe, said the suspects have confessed to their involvement in the crime.
Edafe added that they also named four others : Celestine, Uche, Chinedu Etudo, and Nweke, as members of the gang, noting that an intensive manhunt for the fleeing gang members was ongoing.
He further confirmed the arrest of a 46-year- old suspect, Omoruyi Osemudiamen, with 250 rounds of live cartridges concealed in a bag during a visibility and confidence building patrol at the Issele-Uku axis of the Benin-Asaba highway.
“In another development, acting on a tip-off, on August 3, a combined team of Bufallo and Eagle-Net Special Squad of the command, stormed summit road in Asaba ,and arrested one James Moro,23 .
“A locally fabricated pump action gun was recovered from him. Investigation later revealed that the suspect uses the gun to rob innocent persons at night along that axis. Investigation is ongoing,” he added.
