A 32-year-old kidnap suspect, Marvelous Isaac, arrested by the Edo State Police Command, has confessed that the firearms used by his gang were rented from a chief security officer of Oredo Community, Benin City, identified as Liberty.
Isaac, who said he is from Akwa Ibom State but lives at Ekenwa Road in Benin City, the Edo State capital, was arrested after his gang kidnapped a woman at the Vegetable Market in Benin City on June 14.
During the operation, police operatives reportedly recovered N2.25 million, an RX 350 Lexus SUV used by the suspects, a pump-action shotgun, two live cartridges, N2.25 million believed to be proceeds of crime, and a motorcycle.
The Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, said that operatives of the Intelligence Response Team arrested the suspects following credible intelligence gathered on the kidnap incident.
According to the police commissioner, another member of the gang, identified simply as Precious, was killed during a gun battle with security operatives.
During interrogation in videos obtained by SaharaReporters, Isaac said the victim paid the sum of N8 million ransom before she was released, adding that he got a share of N1.5 million.
Asked about the guns they used for the kidnapping operation, Isaac said, “It was Precious that went to the CSO because he is the owner of the guns. The CSO is in Oredo Community. His name is Liberty. His money is N1.5 million.”
Isaac said they were four gang members who carried out the kidnapping operation, including himself, Precious, Wisdom, and one gang member he said was brought from Delta State.
“According to Precious, guns at Liberty’s place are many,” the suspect said, adding that he was told that the CSO rents the guns to other people.
According to one of the videos, the kidnappers who operated during the day drove to the market, attacked an SUV parked along the market road, shot at the front tyre of the car, and dragged a man out from the driver’s seat.
However, as they forced the man into their own vehicle and attempted to also get the woman inside the victim’s car, the man escaped. The woman also ran out of the car, but the kidnappers chased after her, caught her, and forced her into their car before zooming off.
The Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, commended the police and other security agencies for their swift response, saying his administration would continue to intensify efforts against kidnapping and cult-related violence.
The governor also reiterated plans to establish a special court dedicated to kidnapping and cultism cases to facilitate speedy prosecution, convictions, and sentencing of convicts to death by hanging.
