A 28-year-old Nigerian man, Ezekiel Eseoghene, allegedly faked his kidnap with the intention to extort his family members, and also masterminded the kidnap of other members of his family in Odovie, a community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
Penpushing reports that the Delta State Police Command Public Relations Officer Bright Edafe, confirmed this in a statement on Sunday, adding that as at the time of filing this report the suspect has been arrested.
The police spokesperson who is a Deputy Superintendent of Police, in a related development said a couple woman, were earlier kidnapped on 2 August, 2023 in the community, adding that the woman’s husband is an elder brother to the suspect.
Penpushing further reports that the police spokesperson said the woman was killed by the kidnappers, while other members of the family were released after N1.3 million ransom was paid to them(kidnappers).
The police imagemaker said the command was already investigating the murder of the woman when her husband contacted operatives to inform that the suspect made a suspicious call claiming that he had been kidnapped and that the kidnappers were demanding N500,000 as ransom, which the family swiftly sent via the suspect’s bank account.
Penpushing also reports that Edafe explained that, on receipt of the information, the Commissioner of Police in Delta State, Wale Abass, ordered the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Oreropke Police Headquarters, Paul Oboware, to investigate the matter and ensure arrest of all suspects involved in the kidnap.
“Consequently, on 11 August at about 11:45 p.m., acting on technically generated information, operatives of the Division’s Anti-Crime Patrol Team led by Mr Oboware stormed the Odovie Community in Ughelli North LGA and arrested the said Ezekiel Eseoghene Obeje at the same spot where the sum of N1.3 million was earlier paid as ransom for the release of his elder brother, the husband of the deceased,” he said.
‘Investigation revealed that the said Eseoghene, who is a member of Eiye confraternity, faked his own kidnap and is also suspected to have masterminded the kidnap of his brother and other family members which led to the death of Regina Ogana’, he stated
Penpushing reports that the police spokesperson in the statement stated that the command has commenced investigation to the case as at the time of filing this report on Monday
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