Kidnapping is like a business to me, says kingpin

“Kidnapping is like a business to me. Lack of job and bad economy of the country forced me into crime.

“I chose kidnapping because that is what I thought I could do best. Now I am in trouble and since I entered this business, I never killed anybody.”

These were the part of the confessional statements of a suspect, Joshua Okoh, when he was paraded by Delta State Police Command at its headquarters in Asaba on Tuesday.

According to Okoh: “What me and other gang members do is to just collect the ransom and let the person (victim) go. We do pity them, but we do not have any other option, but this crime of kidnapping.

“I have carried out about five successful kidnappings and my share ran into millions of naira.

“I bought cars with the money and proposed to establish a business before this arrest.

“It is not like we like this job, but we kidnappers are forced into crime. You will have rich leaders and brothers, they will not help you, rather they will be exhibiting wealth in your presence.

“It will interest you to know that most people who are victims of kidnapping are brought and arranged by their own brothers and sisters who they refused to help, just like this very one that led to our arrest was initiated by a brother of the woman she may have refused to assist”.

“I just want to confess not to please anybody, particularly the Police to free me, but just for God to forgive me for all the wrongs I have done to humanity.

“I deserve this punishment that I am undergoing now. The Bible says, ‘say the truth and it shall set you free,’ hence I am confessing.”

The kidnap leader, who hails from Udu Council of the state, said the gang used two guns to carry out kidnap operations and that after a successful operation, the victim is kept in their hideout located in a bush in Ekrehavwe town, Ughelli North Council.

Okoh, who was arrested along with four other suspected members of his gang, blamed the devil for their actions.