Metro

Delta Woman’s Kidnappers After Collecting N2 Million Ransom

Published

12 months ago

November 30, 2023

The Delta State Police Command has apprehended eight suspects linked to the abduction of a woman in Sapele and the subsequent collection of a N2 million ransom.

The arrested individuals include Raymond Etchie, a 46-year-old male who negotiated and received the ransom; Felix Okoro, a 40-year-old male and one of the syndicate’s operational drivers; Oghene Ogaga Sylvester, a 45-year-old male who guarded the victim; Henry Edeki, a 35-year-old male; Ominike Sunday, 23; Jerusalem Sunday, 35; and Theophilus Akpofi, 29.

The 43-year-old kidnapped woman (name withheld) was reportedly abducted by armed men in a tricycle along Shell Road, Sapele, on November 19, 2023, at 9:00 pm along with her ML-350 Mercedes Benz. She was initially taken in her vehicle until it ran out of fuel, after which the kidnappers transferred her to their operational tricycle and transported her to their hideout.

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The victim was eventually released on Tuesday, November 22, 2023, after her family paid a N2 million ransom as demanded by the abductors.

Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Delta Command, CP Wale Abass, instructed the operatives of CP – DECOY Squad, led by ASP Julius Robinson, to employ technically-generated intelligence to track down the criminals. The squad, with assistance from the Sapele Police Division, conducted a successful sting operation on November 25, arresting the gang leader, 41-year-old Morrison Godwin, in Amukpe area of Sapele town.

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Morrison Godwin reportedly confessed to the crime and disclosed plans for a meeting with other gang members on the same day to strategize for another kidnapping operation. Acting on this information, the police laid an ambush at their meeting point on November 26, 2023, and arrested the remaining gang members.

The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed that the suspects have confessed to their roles in the crime, and the victim has identified them. The suspects, during interrogation, revealed the location of the victim’s vehicle, which was subsequently recovered in Oghara town, and efforts are underway to recover the syndicate’s operational weapons.