LAGOS SEPTEMBER 4TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Freeborn Okwundu and Monday Ekpeki, suspected to be members of a dare-devil kidnap gang, have been killed by operatives of the Delta state police command.
The suspects died after gun shot injuries during a duel with the police in Abby, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of the state, where they had relocated following the demolition of their former hide-out in Abraka.
Before their gruesome death, the suspects were said to have confessed participating in the kidnap of a senior staff of Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka and the kidnapping of Mrs. Josephine Okoduwa, wife of a member of Edo State House of Assembly before they gave up the ghost.
Their confession led to the arrest of other suspects including Okotie Obakpororo Onyiye (21), Bomboy Prince aka Owila (29) and Ejimafuwe Okorigb (24).
Also, Onyiye, who is said to be the armourer of the kidnap gang, was further said to have confessed to have obtained a lump sum of N900,000.00 paid as ransom during the abduction of the lawmaker’s wife.
Commissioner of Police in the state, Ikechukwu Aduba who confirmed the arrests, said the three suspects were now helping the police to tidy up investigations, adding that they would soon be made to face the full weight of the law.
An accountant with DELSU, Martins Denedo who is the treasurer of the University’s Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) was kidnapped by eight gunmen on January 1 at the gate of his residence in Abraka.
But the victim was freed few days later when the police stormed the hide-out of the hoodlums where one Nelson Denedo, said to be the chairman of a local vigilance group was killed along side two other members of the gang. Two suspects were arrested at the time while others fled for safety.
Meanwhile, three female members of a dare-devil kidnapping syndicate operating around Obiaruku-Abraka-Ozoro axis of Delta state have been arrested and paradd by the state police Command.
The syndicate was allegedly responsible for the series of kidnapping in the university town of Abraka where lecturers are said to be the main targets for the money-spinning but nefarious act.
The suspects simply identified as Jennifer, Oreva and Esther, were arrested at the gang’s hide-out located on Uremu Road, Ozoro with N1.2 million ransom allegedly paid by the relatives of a kidnapped victim, Dr. (Mrs.) Mokobia, a professor in the department of Science Education, Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka.
She was allegedly abducted last month at about 1 am at her residence in Obiaruku, in Ukwuani Local Government Area of the state at the presence of her husband, Prof. Mokobia who is also a staff of DELSU.
Prof. Mokobia and other members of the household were allegedly disposessed of their cash and other valuables, including GSM handsets, by the bandits.
But the hoodlums were later said to have established contacts with the pastor of Mrs. Mokobia demanding for N20 million which was negotiated to N1.2 million.
Following a tip-off, men of the Special Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the state police command tracked the gang to the house where the ransom was to be deposited.
Delta state Commissioner of Police, Ikechukwu Aduba, who paraded the suspects, said “the suspected kidnappers, upon sighting the squad, opened fire and in the hot exchange of gun fire that ensued, one of the suspects later identified as Vote Michael suffered fatal gun shots. Three other female suspects were arrested.”
Aduba said the N1.2 million ransom in addition to a locally made double barrel pistol and 50 rounds of cartridges were recovered, adding that investigation into the matter was still on-going.
Source: PM NEWS