Men of the Edo State Police Command have made have made a breakthrough in the bid to cleanse Ekpoma of kidnappers after the reorganisation of the Ekpoma Division.

Edo Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, who relocated to Ekpoma for the past five days approved the posting of CSP Tomofe Nwabueze to assume office as the new Divisional Police Officer (DPO).

Violent protest broke out in Ekpoma last weekend over incessant kidnappings and killings by kidnappers.

Edo Police Spokesman, Eno Ikoedem, said the first breakthrough was the arrest of an 18-year- old girl, Obehi Odine, who kidnapped herself and demanded N10m ransom.

She said the suspect was kidnapped Monday along Old INEC Road, Ekpoma, on January 12th and the new DPO swung into action, deployed operational resources to track the caller.

Ikoedem said technical intelligence and field investigations led to the arrest of the suspect, which later revealed a case of self-kidnapping.

“The suspect, one Obehi Odine ‘F’, aged 18, was arrested for staging her own kidnapping and demanding a ransom of Ten Million Naira (₦10,000,000). She has confessed to the crime, admitting that the incident was deliberately fabricated to extort money.”

Ikoedem said a bush combing operation in Ubiaja, revealed a concealed forest enclave.

She said the a suspected kidnapping and logistics base, was stormed and 11 male suspects believed to be members of an organised kidnapping syndicate were arrested.

Exhibits recovered, according to her, were 24 dane guns, 17 cutlasses, three battle axes, gun powder, torchlights, mobile phones, solar panels, assorted charms, one Daylong motorcycle, and the sum of ₦209,700.00 cash.

According to her: “The Commissioner of Police, strongly warns members of the public against engaging in false kidnapping reports and other deceptive acts, noting that such actions waste critical security resources, divert attention from genuine emergencies, create unnecessary panic, and undermine public confidence, hence anyone caught will be prosecuted accordingly.”

(The Nation)

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