The suspected kidnappers of a Delta couple, Mr and Mrs Okutonye Efetobore, who regained freedom from their abductors in April this year on the payment of N1m ransom, are now in the police net.
They were abducted on April 27, 2023, in Ughellli, the Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State while a ransom of N1m was paid before their release.
PUNCH Metro gathered that following the kidnap of the couple and the ransom payment for their release, the state Commissioner of Police, Wale Abass, directed the command’s decoy squad to ensure that the kidnappers are arrested and brought to book.
In compliance with the CP’s directive, on May 11, 2023, around 11.15pm, operatives of the squad led by the commander, ASP Julius Robinson, acting on credible intelligence gathered, embarked on a sting operation and arrested one Emmanuel James, aged 32 years of Otor-Udu, the Ughelli South Local Government Area, who is suspected to be the leader of the gang.
On the following day around 2.30pm, the suspect led operatives to the Ejewu community in the Udu Local Government Area and arrested the syndicate’s driver, one Ejiro Peter (25), a native of the Kokori community in the Ethiope East Local Government Area.
On interrogation, the duo confessed to their involvement in a series of armed robbery and kidnapping operations in Ughelli and Warri which included the kidnap of the Efetobores on April 27, 2023, at Ughellli town.
After their confession, the suspects later led the police operatives to another notorious member of their criminal gang whose real name is unknown but fondly called ‘Oh Lord’ in the Egbike area in Udu.
The latest suspect, upon sighting the police, engaged them in a gun duel and escaped through the ceiling of his apartment with bullet injuries.
When his apartment was searched, a bag containing a locally fabricated pistol and three rounds of 7.62 AK47 live ammunition were recovered.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, while confirming the incident, noted that a manhunt for the fleeing suspect is ongoing.
