4th September, 2013
Two suspected members of a kidnap gang, Freeborn Okwundu and Monday Ekpeki, have been killed by operatives of the Delta State Police command.
The suspects met their waterloo after suffering fatal gun shot injuries during a gun duel with the police in Abby, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of the state, where they had relocated to following the demolition of their hideout in Abraka.
Before their death, the suspects were said to have confessed to 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.
Their confession led to the arrest of other suspects including Okotie Obakpororo Onyiye, 21, Bomboy Prince a.k.a. Owila, 29, and Ejimafuwe Okorigbo, 24.
Also, Onyiye, who is said to be the armourer of the kidnap gang, was said to have confessed that he received N900,000 as ransom after the abduction of the lawmaker’s wife.
Commissioner of Police in the state, Ikechukwu Aduba, who confirmed the arrests, informed that 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 a few days later when the police stormed the hide-out of the hoodlums where 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.
Meanwhile, three female members of another kidnap gang operating around Obiaruku-Abraka-Ozoro axis of Delta State have been arrested and paraded by the state Police Command.
The gang is allegedly responsible for kidnapping in the university town of Abraka where lecturers are said to be the main targets.
The suspects simply identified as Jennifer, Oreva and Esther, were arrested at the gang’s hideout 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 a.m. at her residence in Obiaruku, in Ukwuani Local Government Area of the state in 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.
—Jethro Ibileke/Benin