The Delta State Police Command has arrested a family of kidnappers operating in the state.
The kidnap syndicate run by a father, his son, nephews and other relations, was uncovered by the Police in the state.
Commissioner of Police, Delta Command, Mr. Zanna Ibrahim, who confirmed the story, said that a 56-year-old man, Musa, was behind the syndicate.
According to him, the suspect was arrested by policemen at Ashaka Division and brought to the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad office in Asaba.
Zanna said: “Intelligence at the disposal of the Command revealed vividly that the suspect has complicity in most kidnap cases as he sponsors, harbours and conceals activities of most kidnapping syndicates, mainly dominated by his sons, nephews and his close relations.
“Also arrested are Musa, son; Yakuku, nephew; Abdulkarim, nephew, all in prison custody; Saadu, a close associate; Dahiru, a distant relation, and one Ibrahim, now deceased.
“All the suspects lived in the same compound with the chief suspect, who is the current Chairman the state’s association of cattle herders.
“Further intelligence revealed that the house of the suspect is used as a den, where victims are kept. The case is under investigation”, the Delta police boss said.
In a related development, the Abia State Police Command has also arrested the leader of a kidnap gang, identified as Prince Agorom, who was alleged to have invited his friend to his birthday party, but seized him and demanded N5 million ransom.
According to sources reports, one Ozoemelam, who lives at Ugorji Street, Aba, made a report to the police that he met one Johnson on social media and that after chatting with him for few days, Johnson invited him to a birthday party at Ibegbulam Street, Omuma Road area, Aba.
When Ozoemelam arrived for the birthday party, he was allegedly beaten up, forced to surrender his belongings and his mobile phone was used to call his elder brother, and a demand of N5 million ransom made for his freedom.
The victim was however able to escape from the kidnappers’ den at midnight, while the suspects were asleep.
Comfirming the incident, the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Leye Oyebade, said the Police on receiving the report, swung into action and arrested the suspected leader of the gang, Prince Agorom.
The Abia police boss further noted that the suspect has confessed that he is the leader of a four-man kidnap gang and that efforts were on to arrest other suspects.
