By Tony Adibe
The Police in Enugu State said they have arrested a gang of kidnappers who lure their victims by pretending to be cheap clothes sellers online.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Enugu State Command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe disclosed this in a statement issued in Enugu on Friday.
The statement reads: “Police Operatives serving at Udenu Police Division of the Command, on 16/10/2022 at about 1.25pm, promptly responded to a distress call and arrested six (6) kidnapping suspects and rescued two (2) of their victims, at Igbokwube Village, Amalla in Udenu LGA.
“The suspects include: Okechi Chijioke (male) aged 29 and Ugwu Christiana (f) aged 24 (principal suspects), Ndidi Ekwueme (female) aged 27 (jujuist), Chinwe Okoro (female) aged 35 (ransom receiver), Nwabueze Friday (male) aged 26 (tricyclist) and Titus Ekeh (male) aged 70 (provider of accommodation used for keeping the kidnapped victims)”.
“Ongoing investigation reveals that the male principal suspect lured the victims through Facebook, with the promise of selling cheap clothes and bags to them. But instead, took them to the said location working with his cohorts, and obtained a combined ransom of about five hundred thousand naira (N500,000.00) without releasing them, before they were apprehended, and the victims rescued. One (1) Dane gun, one (1) mock gun, one (1) tricycle, one (1) gas burner, one (1) 8-inches Winco foam, four (4) bags containing clothing materials and other incriminating items were recovered from them”.
“Consequently, the Commissioner has reassured users of the said road and the citizenry of the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensure that their security and safety are maximally maintained, while categorically stating that onslaught on unrepentant criminal elements in the State shall be sustained”.
“Meanwhile, Police Operatives of the Command serving at Independence Layout Police Division, on 20/10/2022 at about 2.30pm, arrested three (3) kidnapping suspects namely: Chidi Jobbison (male) aged 24, Emmanuel Ogbu (m) aged 25 and Ogochukwu Nweke (f) aged 17, at Nkwo in Ugwuaji community of Enugu South LGA, and rescued their male kidnapped victim.
“Their arrest is due to the Operatives swift response to credible information alleging that the trio and other members of their gang that escaped, wearing masks and operating in a minibus, abducted the said victim from his house to a bush in the mentioned location and obtained a ransom of six hundred and fifty thousand naira (N650,00.00), through a POS Operator.
“However, the Operatives clamped down on them, arrested the suspects and recovered the yellow-coloured Suzuki minibus with registration number UKP 270 YP and two (2) masks”.
