Austin Ogwuda
Female Pastor, 2 others arrested for alleged kidnap, collection of N2 million ransom
A female Pastor and two other members of a kidnap syndicate have been arrested in Delta State over the kidnap of a woman and subsequent collection of N2 million ransom.
The female Pastor (name withheld) confessed to be a member of the kidnap gang including her husband who is currently on the run.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer PPRO, Bright Edafe, a Deputy Superintendent of Police the kidnap victim was held hostage in the house of the Pastor for six days before releasing the victim after coughing out the sum of two million naira as ransom.
The PPRO in a press statement made available to newsmen said that “on 19/7/2023, a case of kidnapping was reported at Obiaruku Police station, the distress caller (name withheld) stated that on their way back from their shop at about 2030hours of the same date, three masked men armed with guns accosted them at the entrance of their house located at Obinoba and kidnapped the mother.
“Sequel to this complaint, the Commissioner of Police CP Wale Abass psc detailed the DPO Obiaruku Police Station to work in synergy with the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber-Crime Squad (SAKCCS) to immediately launch a manhunt for the hoodlums and rescue the kidnapped victim.
“And on 26/7/2023, the kidnappers released the victim after collecting a ransom of Two Million Naira and other jewellery worth about Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira.
“Armed with relevant information”, the statement went on, “the command embarked on an intelligence-led investigation which paid off when on 4/8/2023, the operatives arrested one (name withheld) aged 43yrs.
“Suspect when interrogated, confessed to being a member of the gang that kidnapped the woman(name withheld). His confession led to the arrest of two other suspects (name withheld) ‘m’ aged 42yrs, and a self-acclaimed pastor and wife to the leader of the gang (names withheld), at large, in whose house the victim was held captive for six days. “They all confessed to their involvement in the kidnapped and named four others ( all names withheld) as members of the gang. An intensive manhunt for the other gang members is ongoing”, the statement added.
