THE Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team in collaboration with the IGP Technical Intelligence Unit has arrested six suspected members of a notorious inter-state kidnapping syndicate operating in the Niger Delta.
This was contained in a statement on Monday by the spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr Asinim Butswat.
The statement listed one Long-John Franklin, 24, alias ‘General Soft’, who is said to be “an ex-convict and the head of the kidnappers’ camp in the creeks as one of those arrested.
It disclosed that Franklin was also involved in pirate activities and illegal oil refining.
“Also apprehended are Goodluck Ikiyou, 30, aka Last Born; 19-year-old Chilowe Augustine; ThankGod Manasseh, 28, alias Axe Man, who is the second-in-command of the deadly Icelanders confraternity,” the statement further read.
It identified some of the suspects as 24-year-old female, Ogeneima Omoni, who is a member of the syndicate and cooked for the kidnappers in their den, and one Chimaobi Nmeribe, 47.
Butswat, who stated that they (suspects) were identified to be indigenes of Rivers, Abia and Bayelsa states, further said, “The suspects’ activities cut across Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta state.
“They have made useful statements and identified Innocent Awelo Luke,
Anthony Awelo Luke, Makiava and one Ndubisi, a dismissed Civil Defence officer, as the fleeing gang members.”
He said that items recovered from them were two Toyota vehicles, pictorial and video evidence of ‘General Soft’ and Chilowe Augustine displaying ransom collected from a kidnap victim.
Butswat added that investigation was ongoing to track down the fleeing members of the gang.