Police Arrest Woman, Two Others For Kidnapping In Obiaruku

By Daniel Dafe

A self-acclaimed pastor and two others involved in the kidnap of a trader have been arrested by the police.

On the 19th of July, 2023, the case was reported at Obiaruku Police station.

The police in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO,.DSP Bright Edafe, added that “the distress caller (name witheld) 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 Obinomba in Ukwuani LGA and kidnapped the mother.”

According to the statement, “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.”

He continued: “On 26/7/2023, the kidnappers released the victim after collecting a ransom of Two Million Naira (#2,000,000) and other jewelleries worth about Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (#3,500,000). Armed with relevant information, the command embarked on an intelligence-led investigation which paid off when on 4/8/2023, the operatives arrested one Kabi Kester ‘m’ aged 43yrs. Suspect when interrogated, confessed to being a member of the gang that kidnapped the woman(name withheld).”

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The police said that his confession led to the “arrest of the two other suspects namely Henry Owojero ‘m’ aged 42yrs, and Franca Okuzor ‘f’ a self-acclaimed pastor and wife to the leader of the gang named Celestine Okuzor Nova (at large) in whose house the victim was held captive for six days. They all confessed to their involvement in the kidnap and named four others Celestine Okuzor Nova, Uche (surname unknown), Chinedu Etudo, and Nweke (surname unknown) as members of the gang.”

The police said an intensive manhunt for the other gang members is ongoing.