The Delta State Police command has arrested a barber for kidnapping his mother.
The barber, who is physically challenged, was alleged to have abducted his mother, Mrs. Kate Emienor, in Benin City, Edo State on 5 February, 2013 and detained her for 10 days.
It was learnt that the suspect who is a hardened criminal, successfully sweet-talked his mother into agreeing to be abducted in order to obtain money from her son living outside the country.
While she was been “held hostage” at a hideout in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, the Police said he alerted his elder brother, based overseas, that their mother was kidnapped and claimed the abductors were demanding N20 million ransom to release her.
The ransom was later reduced to N10 million when his brother could not raise the N20 million. Meanwhile, unknown to the son, the police were alerted about the purported kidnap and they put in place strategies to track the abductors.
The Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, who confirmed the incident, yesterday, said, “It is true, both the son and mother that was kidnapped are in our custody.”
Aduba added that, “The suspect who arranged the purported kidnap of his mother was busy holding meetings with other members of the family on how to release their mother, whereas, he was responsible for the abduction.”
The commissioner disclosed that the suspect held a meeting with other members of the family 24 hours before he was arrested at about 4.00 pm on February 15, adding that no ransom was paid to rescue Mrs. Emienor.
Aduba however assured Deltans that he will soon rid the state of criminals. He therefore charged the people not to withhold any information that can lead to the arrest of criminals.
Meanwhile a police source who preferred to remain unnamed said, “It is likely the suspect will be charged to court for the kidnap of his mother, but the mother will be used as a key witness since it was obvious she fell for the trap.”