Two criminals both children of pastors of an orthodox
church, and a woman from joining the inglorious business of kidnapping.
While the young men plied their illicit trade in Delta State, the woman
carried out her operations in Offa, and other parts of Kwara State.
The lads, Elijah Umanu (20) and Jerry Ohanuba (22), are being detained
at the Delta State Command of the State Security Service (SSS)
headquarters in Asaba for their involvement in the kidnap of one
Chibuchi Offia (10) on June 3, in Warri.
The suspects are sons of presiding pastors in two separate parishes of an orthodox church in the oil-rich city.
The suspects, who admitted taking part in the crime when they were
paraded, said they did it because they knew the father of the victim is a
wealthy man, who works with Chevron Oil Company and would be willing to
pay the ransom to free his son.
Ohanuba confessed that he lured the unsuspecting victim on the fateful Sunday out of the church for his gang members to nab. Having kidnapped the boy, the gang demanded a ransom from Chibuchi’s father for his release.
Looking dazed, Ohanuba claimed it was his first time at kidnapping, adding that one of his friends, Buchi lured him into the criminal act.
Ohanuba confessed that he lured the unsuspecting victim on the fateful Sunday out of the church for his gang members to nab. Having kidnapped the boy, the gang demanded a ransom from Chibuchi’s father for his release.
Looking dazed, Ohanuba claimed it was his first time at kidnapping, adding that one of his friends, Buchi lured him into the criminal act.
“That was why I introduced other friends because there are other activities that we carry out during kidnap,” he said.
His partner, Elijah, who also regretted the action, said he got into
the gang when he was invited to transport the victim to the kidnappers’
hideout, for a reward.
“I was called upon to transport the boy in a car, just to take him from
the church to the hideout and they would give me money which I did and
they gave me N140,000. They told me it was a simple job and when they
mentioned the amount, it got into my brain and I forgot about the
consequences,” he said.
The suspects, who would soon appear in court, said their respective
fathers had abandoned them to their fate since they were arrested.
Meanwhile, security operatives, including the SSS and the police, have
rescued a kidnapped victim, Mrs. Agatha Diden, who was abducted by an
armed gang at about 7pm last Tuesday.
The gang, comprising six gunmen, had stormed her office on Nnebisi
Road, Asaba and forced her into her Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle
(SUV).
However, sources at the SSS said the hoodlums were trailed to their
hideout where a gun duel ensued, leading to the kidnappers abandoning
the woman. One pump action gun, loaded with four cartridges, a black bag
containing seven AK 47 magazines, a pair of vehicle number plates and
two pairs of screw drivers were recovered from the den of the
kidnappers.
The victim, who is said to be receiving medical attention at an
undisclosed hospital, is the wife of a commissioner in the Delta State
Oil Producing Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Mr. Michael Diden.
Meanwhile, luck has run out of a middle-aged woman who was accused of
involvement in the kidnapping of schoolchildren in Offa and surrounding
communities in Kwara State, when she was caught right in the act. Angry
youths descended on her, and almost lynched her to death but for the
intervention of some elders in the community. After her rescue, the
suspect was handed over to the Olofa of Ofa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, who
subsequently handed her over to the police for further interrogation.
The incident happened Monday at Isale Ago area of
Owode Market in Offa when the middle-aged woman was discovered to have
kidnapped a pupil.
Excited about having caught somebody in connection with the frequent
cases of kidnapping of schoolchildren, the Offa youths almost went wild
in their determination to kill the woman.
It was also learnt that the woman confessed to the people that she is from Ede but she was based in Ilesa, Osun State, with other members of the syndicate. According to her, they sell their victims to those who need them for ritual purposes.
It was also learnt that the woman confessed to the people that she is from Ede but she was based in Ilesa, Osun State, with other members of the syndicate. According to her, they sell their victims to those who need them for ritual purposes.
Palace sources also told reporters yesterday that the kidnap suspect
was later handed over to the police Area Command in Omu Aran to take
over the matter in view of the presence of protesters that had invaded
the palace.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state
command, Olufemi Fabode, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said
he was yet to be briefed of the development, adding that the matter was
yet to get to the command's headquarters in Ilorin.
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