Police smash notorious kidnap gang in Abia

The Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team has arrested a notorious kidnap gang in Abia State.
The arrest of the gang members followed the kidnap of 80-year-old Chief Felix Ogbonna on November 26, 2017.
The IRT, led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, was deployed by the IGP, Ibrahim Idris, to unravel those behind the kidnap of Ogbonna, who was only released after ransom was paid.
According to available information, the kidnappers started their operations in November 2017 and have been involved in three kidnappings in Aba, Abia State.
They collected ransoms of N250,000, N1 million and N5.5 million in Dollar.
The suspects said they demand for ransom based in the type of vehicle driven by the target.
Those arrested were: Samuel Chikaodi James, aka Chiboy, 29.
James is said to be the second-in-command, driver of the operational vehicle used for their operation, ransom negotiator and does the pick up of the ransom.
He has reportedly received N3 million so far.
Also arrested was Justice Iriah, popularly known as Mopol, 23.
From Edo State, Iriah snatches and secures the hostages in the vehicle up to the kidnap den.
He is usually armed and has received 300,000.
Ikechukwu Igwebuike, aka Anambra, is 22 and was also arrested by the IRT.
Igwebuike, who is also armed, snatches and secures the hostages in the vehicle up to the kidnap den and has also been paid 300,000 for his efforts.
Chikachi Ubani, who is 30, is in charge of the stronghold cum detention camp where hostages were kept.
Chineye Mark, 45, a panel beater, hides their operation vehicle in his workshop and has so far received 150,000.
It was learnt that exhibits recovered included AK47 rifle, magazine/ammunitions, Lexus 300 jeep and a Toyota Sienna.
Two members of the gang are said to be at large.