Police Smash Kidnap Syndicate, Arrest 70-Year-Old Leader

THE Police yesterday announced the dismantling of a 25-man gang of suspected kidnappers in Abiriba, Abia State, led by a 70-year-old community leader who is also a high chief in the state.

The dismantling of the gang, according to the force, also led to the discovery of a number of shallow graves in a swampy swath at Ogbu Amaogudu in Abiriba, where a number of people abducted by the gang for ransom were buried.

Sources at the Force Headquarters, Abuja told The Guardian that the discoveries were made by the team investigating the case of the latest victim of the gang, Chief (Mrs.) Oyediya Udensi Ifegwu, the 89-year-old mother of Chief Udensi Ifegwu, the founding chairman of the defunct Alpha Merchant Bank.

Mrs. Ifegwu was abducted and killed even after the payment of the N5 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers, together with her 14-year grand daughter, Joy Asiegbu Agwu, a class three pupil of Egwuena Girls Secondary School, Abiriba.

Their bodies have been dug out of the shallow graves at Ogbu Amaogudu.

Sources said police officers investigating the deaths are working on the theory that both Mrs Ifegwu and the grand daughter were killed despite the huge payment because the kidnappers felt that the victims knew them very well and would spill the beans if released.

All the suspects and the dead hail from the same village.

The member of the gang who collected the N5m ransom opposite Nova Flour Mills on the Abiriba-Igbere Highway was killed moments later, prompting the Police to work on the theory that a disagreement must have occurred between the kidnappers over the murder of Mrs Ifegwu and her grand daughter.

"A senior Police officer, who preferred anonymity said: "It was a member of the gang who squealed on the leaders of the group and another member showed the graves to security agents."

A Police source in Abuja gave the names of the gang leaders as Chief Esere Opie Ukpabi, alias Anini (apparently named after Lawrence Anini, a notorious armed robber in Benin City, Edo State, in the 1980s), Chief Ojebe Uguru and Ndukwo Uguru, also known as Caesar. They are all now in Police custody.

The Inspector General of Police, Ogbonna Onovo, is said to be alarmed that elderly people could be involved in "conspiracies, robberies, kidnappings and killings and could lead such a large gang."

He has directed a crack team of detectives at the Force Headquarters to take over the matter "and ensure that all culprits are brought to book, no matter whose ox is gored"

Members of the gang were named as John Kalu, Eme Uguru, Emeka Eme, Eni Esobe, Moses Orika Ifegwu, Awo Nduka Okiriko, Mba Orika Ifegwu, Akanu Akanu Kalu Emeri alias Fash, Ogbonnaya Nwaonyeuku, Arua Agwu Uwa, Oediya Ole, madam Nneji Uguru, Agbai Agwu Eleanya Okpoto alias Nothing Spoil and Ojigwo Ndukwo.

Others include Agbai Agwu Eleanya alias Man Double, Ojigwo Ekekwo, Kalu Nkpa Etughu, Nduka Dimgba, Anya Kalu, Orji Okuwa Edede alias Choppinson, Agbai Kalu Ejituru also known as Jatamanta, Agwu Arua Agwu, Ekeagbara Obewu, kelechi Akwasco, Kalu Okorie and Anagha Chukwu.

Among victims of the 25-man gang are Rev. Fr. Pascal Ajuka of the Catholic Church at Ogbu, Abiriba, who was released after a N200, 000 ransom payment; Chief Nwojo Omokorie Nwojo, who regained freedom after N5 million ransom was paid; Hon Vincent Egbuta, released when his family paid N50, 000; and Chief Orji Asaa, freed following a payment of N1.5 million ransom.

Meanwhile, the IGP has expressed satisfaction with the Police team and intelligence officers who recently unmasked the kidnappers who abducted and killed the owner of God Is Good Motors, a prominent transporter based in Benin, Edo State, after a huge ransom payment.

The kidnap was, according to Police investigations, masterminded by a relation of the transporter whose cover was blown when a stop-and-search Police team stopped a young man in a new Camry car for a routine check and grew suspicious when the fellow became incoherent. The Police arrested him and as they were going through his telephone text messages they discovered messages with the chairman of God Is Good Motors when he was in captivity.

"The young man, in turn, led our men to his gang members who are now in our custody," the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, told The Guardian.

"But before we could apprehend the mastermind of the abduction who is a relative of the transporter, he escaped. He is the only one at large, but we shall definitely catch him."

Ojukwu said: "The Inspector General is impressed with the thoroughness, maturity, intelligence and professionalism exhibited by the team in Edo State."