A 17-year-old girl, Ogochukwu Nweke, was among suspects arrested for kidnapping for ransom in Enugu State.
This was disclosed by the spokesman of the Enugu State Police Command, Daniel Ndukwe, in a statement.
According to Ndukwe, the lady and members of the kidnapping gang were arrested after they abducted a victim and collected the ransom via Point of Sale.
The suspects were arrested on October 20, 2022.
Other members of the gang apart from Nweke are Chidi Jobbison, 24; and Emmanuel Ogbu, 25.
Ndukwe said: “Police Operatives of the Command serving at Independence Layout Police Division, on 20th October, 2022, at about 2.30pm, arrested three kidnapping suspects namely: Chidi Jobbison, 24, Emmanuel Ogbu, 25, and Ogochukwu Nweke, 17.
“They were arrested at Nkwo in Ugwuaji community of Enugu South Local Government Area.
“Following their arrest, Police rescued their male victim.
“Their arrest was due to the operatives swift response to credible information.
“Our information was that three gang member, operating in a mini bus, wearing masks, abducted the said victim from his house and took him into a bush in the mentioned location and obtained a ransom of N650,00.00, through a POS Operator.
“However, the operatives clamped down on them, arrested the suspects and recovered the yellow-coloured Suzuki mini bus with registration number UKP 270 YP and two masks.”
The image maker further stated that following received report of alleged attack and abduction of some travellers at Agu-Ekwegbe community axis of Ugwuogo-Nike/Opi/Nsukka highway in the evening hours on October 23, 2022, the State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ammani, has ordered the maximum deployment of operational and intelligence resources of the Command to ensure adequate security on the said road, rescue yet-to-be-ascertained number of persons allegedly abducted and arrest the hoodlums.
Ndukwe noted: “The Commissioner has reassured users of the said road and the citizenry of the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensure that their security and safety were maximally maintained, while categorically stating that onslaught on unrepentant criminal elements in the State shall be sustained.”
