Spokesperson for the state police Command, Bright Edafe, who confirmed the arrest, yesterday, said Regina Ogana, ‘f’, was kidnapped on August 8, alongside her husband and other members of her family.
Edafe said operatives of the Divisional Anti-Crime Patrol team received a distress call from the husband of the deceased that one of his brothers, Eseoghene Ezekiel Obeje, made a suspicious call to him that he was kidnapped and that the kidnappers were demanding a ransom of N500,000.
“Following this development, the money was transferred into the suspect’s account as ransom,” he said.
According to him, the police got information that the suspect was indeed the kidnapper and this infuriated the Commissioner of Police, Wale Abass, to give a marching order to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Oreropke Division to embark on an intelligence-led investigation to ensure that the perpetrators were arrested.
“Consequently, on Friday, at about 1145hrs, through technically generated information, operatives of the Divisional Anti-Crime Patrol team led by the DPO, Paul Oboware, stormed Odovie community and arrested the said Eseoghene Ezekiel Obeje
“Suspect was nabbed at the same spot where the sum N1.3million was earlier paid to him as ransom for the release of his elder brother and husband of the deceased,” Edafe added.
The spokesperson, however, revealed that following thorough investigations, the said Eseoghene, a member of Eiye confraternity, who faked his own kidnapped and masterminded the kidnap of his brother and other family members, led to the death of Regina Ogana.
The suspect, he added, is in police custody, while investigation into the matter is currently ongoing.
Also, operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have arrested one Igwe Uche, ‘m’, 29; Victor Agogozia, ‘m’, 30; and Afam Okoro Victor, ‘m’, 30, all residents of Issele-Azagba community in Aniocha North Local Council of the state.
Edafe said the police acting on a complaint received via a written petition, stormed the community and arrested the suspects, who were found with one locally made cut-to-size pistol, one single barrel gun, and one live cartridge.
“While the suspects and exhibits are in our custody, effort is being intensified to arrest other members of their gang,” he added.
