A kidnapping gang has been busted following the arrest of the members of the gang in Port-Harcourt.
On Wednesday, 12th of October, nine members of the gang were apprehended by operatives of the Inspector General of Police’s Special Intelligence Response team, during a five hour raid.
The police revealed that the gang was responsible for many high profile kidnappings that took place in Borokiri General Area in Rivers state, Port Harcourt.
Mrs Okotie, was the gang’s last operation, which led to their arrest.
She was intercepted by the kidnappers in a Mazda car a few weeks ago at the Royal house of Grace church, Port Harcourt.
However, luck ran out on them when their car broke down on the road and the leader of the gang, Blackie, called in for another car.
The police was able to trace them to their location. On getting there, the suspects abandoned the car with the victim inside, then ran off.
During investigations, the driver working for the gang was traced and arrested. He later gave a confessional statement as to the whereabouts of his members.
The police visited the kidnapper’s hideout through the driver, and five members of the gang were arrested on the spot.
Gabriel, the driver, an Akwa Ibom indigene living in Port Harcourt, confessed to the crime and that he had personally been involved in about 15 kidnappings in the state.
The gang also abducted one Mrs Luis Ubah, a pastor, and Mr Chika Ezenwa, a business woman.
During the course of negotiations, the sum of N50million was demanded for the release of the pastor.
Her husband, Mr Ubah, agreed to pay N2.8million and a place was agreed as the location for the exchange of the money and victim.
But in a dramatic turn of events, two brothers of the pastor, who took the money to the gang, Onyeka Ani and Pastor Okezie Akara, were kidnapped while the victims Mrs Ubah and Ezenwa were released.
The kidnappers, in their greed demanded for another N1million from the bishop for his brothers.
He eventually paid N750,000 for their release.
The suspects, who are under investigation, are Gabriel (33), Alaso Igodo (25), Akeodi Aselemi (34), Ayibinmotei Livinus (25), Anikuroka Marshal (33), Biebele Elisha (34),Efiye Anda (34), Daniel Lessor (31), and Isaac Reuben (27), they all reside in Port Harcourt.
According to the police, investigations are still ongoing to get more details on their activities and also arrest the other members of the gang who have gone into hiding.