Gbenro Adesina
Police Operatives attached to the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) have arrested 35 suspects across the country for their active involvement and participation in series of kidnapping, armed robbery and other heinous crimes across the country.
According to the Nigeria Police Force, the arrest was sequel to the unrelenting efforts by the Police to rid Nigeria of heinous criminals and to get justice for victims of these crimes.
Notable among the criminals arrested were a criminally minded pastor, Adetokumbo Adenopo 52, Founder and General Overseer of New Life Ministry, Lukosi, in Shagamu Area of Ogun State and three other members of his criminal gang namely; Chigozie Williams 22, native of Umuahia North, Abia State, Ugoji Linus 30, native of Ezinifite in Imo State and Emmanuel Chris Ani, 27, native of Aniri in Enugu State, all responsible for the kidnap for ransom of one middle age man, Jonathan Ekpo, 35, from Benue State.
Curiously, the pastor told the Police operatives that he embarked on the crime for the expansion of his church and charity works.
The victim of the gang is an employee of a logistic company and was kidnapped on July 17, 2020 while on official duty to deliver goods in Shagamu, Ogun State.
The victim was kept in an underground cabin inside the Pastor’s church building in Ogijo town, Ogun State by his abductors, who demanded the payment of N20million ransom as condition for his release.
He was subsequently rescued unhurt nine days after and reunited with his family by the Police.
Also, the Police arrested one Udodiri Bright alias Ability 30, native of Osuachara Village, Isiala Mbano LGA of Imo state and three others: Ekwuru Shadrack alias Escobar, 26, native of Arondizuogu village in Okigwe LGA of Imo state, Chimerie Igwe alias 4real, 30, native of Umucheke Village in Orlu LGA of Imo State and Chibuike Sunday, 28, from Arondizuogu of Imo State.
They were arrested on July 5, 2020, for the abduction and killing of a Nigerian US Soldier, Chuks Okebata, who came into Nigeria for holidays in his home town, Okigwe, Imo State in 2017.
The suspects, who were one of the foremost kidnapping groups terrorising the South Eastern part of the country, were arrested 31 months after carrying out their dastard act, following intensive manhunt by the Police team.
The Police team also arrested a 9-man trans-boundary armed robbery and car snatching syndicate led by one Yakubu Hayatu, 30, from Borno State.
Members of his gang include; Adamu Awalu, 28, from Kano State, Abdulrahman Yakubu, 23, from Zaria, Yususf Adamu, 22, from Zaria, Kamal Japhet, 22, from Katsina, Abubakar Samaila, 20, from Zaria, Muhammadu Abdulahi, 20, from Zaria, Yahaya Mohammed, 18, from Kaduna State and Ibrahim Abubakar, 21, from Kwara.
Investigations revealed that the syndicate has snatched over 30 exotic cars at gun point and killed two Policemen.
They use anti-tracker devices to evade arrest and deliver the vehicles to one Alhaji Garba in Maradi, Niger Republic.
Recovered from them are: four Ak47 Rifles, five other Assault Guns, 378 Rounds of Ammunition, 18 Vehicles and one Anti-Tracker Device among others.
