The ring leader of the gang that specialised in kidnapping and robbing persons and afterwards killing and burying them in shallow graves in Gbatse, Ushongo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue state, Iorwuese Kpila has confessed that since he started the act, he has killed about sixteen persons.

The gang leader who said he entered into the act three months ago also confessed that they performed the actions as a blood sacrifice to their ‘queen’ in the request for spiritual power.

Kpila made the confession while answering questions from newsmen shortly after he and other members of his gang were paraded by the state commissioner of police, Garba Mukadas at the headquarters of the command in Makurdi on Friday.

According to him, the gang kidnapped the persons and dispossessed them of their valuables which they sell out with the connection of one of the arrested suspects, Shizoon Nyityo.

The suspect also said whenever they kill their victims they pour out blood libation to their queen, who will, in turn, give them the powers to possess whatever they desired.

Kpila further stated that one of the suspects out the four that were at large was in charge of collecting the ransom sums.

On his part, the commissioner of police explained that the suspects were arrested following intelligence gathered that a kidnap/robbery gang operates within the area.

He pointed out that subsequently, “a crack squad was deployed to the area for investigation.”

“During interrogation, the suspects confessed that they have been armed robbers operating within Ukum, Kwande, Katsina-Ala and Ushongo Local Government Areas (LGAs) who opted for kidnapping as a result of tight deployment of security operatives on the highways.

“The gang kidnapped sixteen persons, robbed them of their vehicles, motorcycles and other belongings, killed and, buried their corpses and planted cassava on the graves as a way of covering the crime. (DAILY INDEPENDENT)