Police Arrest Two Internet Fraudsters In Asaba, Recover Guns, Others, Nab Kidnapper In Oghara

By Daniel Dafe

A patrol team from Eagle Net Special Squad has arrested two internet fraudsters, Daniel Anikpe and Chikeluba James Ani in Asaba, the Delta state capital.

The police made the arrest at the weekend during a stop and search duty at Maryam Babangida junction.

A statement by the police spokesman in the state, DSP Bright Edafe, said the security operatives intercepted a black Toyota Camry car with Reg. No. ABH 911 GW with two male occupants, Daniel and James, both aged 27 and residing at Ulo line shop, off Asaba-Ibusa road.

According to the statement, after a painstaking search was conducted on the suspects and the vehicle, one locally made double barrel pistol, three live cartridges, one jack knife, two wraps of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, one Samsung Galaxy, one Iphone, two black berets, a driver’s license, one GT bank ATM card, one hand chain and five finger rings were recovered from them.

Continuing, DSP Edafe said investigation later revealed that the duo are into internet fraud, adding that Daniel confessed that he got the gun about eight months ago from his friend, Tata (surname unknown) who is currently in Ogwashi-Uku prison for an offence of armed robbery.

He also stated that he bought the gun at a cost of twenty-five thousand Naira (#25,000).

Daniel told the police that in the course of his cyber crime activities, issues bordering on sharing formula usually emanate with his partners in crime, hence he bought the gun to exert revenge on whoever tries to swindle him of his ill gotten money.

The police said investigation is ongoing.

In a related development, policemen attached to Oghara Division have arrested a suspected kidnapper, Osagie Felix.

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The DPO, Oghara Division, CSP Jimoh Hassan acted on an information received from the DPO, new Etete Division in Benin City, that on Sunday, a pastor was kidnapped along with his black Lexus 330 SUV Jeep with Reg no KWL 510 BH, adding that after a painstaking technical intelligence led investigation, it revealed that the vehicle was parked along Ibori Road in Oghara.

The DPO Oghara Division is said to have detailed and led operatives to the area where the said vehicle was sighted and ambush laid for the suspects.

DSP Edafe said that three men later appeared to pick the vehicle and the operatives rounded them up, adding that two of the suspects escaped while Felix aged 36yrs of H & H Ologbo in Edo State was arrested.

Upon interrogation, he confessed to being a member of the kidnapping syndicate that kidnapped the Benin based pastor.

Felix led the operatives to Freedom View Hotel in Oghareki where they were hibernating.

Upon arrival at the hotel, the police image maker said the owner of the hotel aided the escape of the other two suspects and ran away. Felix also led operatives to his room in the hotel and upon search, one cut to size double barrel pistol, six live cartridges and the sum of four hundred and ten thousand naira (#410,000), part of the Five hundred thousand naira (#500,000) ransom was recovered.

The suspect also led the operatives to another room where another double barrel pistol, ten live cartridges and a laptop were also recovered. The victim’s vehicle was also recovered to the station.

At the time of filing this report, serious manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.