3 female kidnap suspects arrested with N1.2 million ransom in Delta

Delta State police command have
arrested three female suspects believed
to be leading a dare-devil kidnapping
syndicate around Obiaruku-Abraka-Ozoro
axis of the state. The syndicate was said
to be responsible for the series of kidnap
cases at the university town of Abraka
where lecturers are said to be the main
targets for the money-spinning but
nefarious act.
The suspects, simply identified as Jennifer,
Oreva and Esther were arrested at the
gang’s hideout located on Uremu Road,
Ozoro with N1.2 million ransom allegedly
paid by relations of a kidnapped victim,
Dr. (Mrs.) Mokobia of the Department of
Science Education, Delta State University
(DELSU), Abraka. Mokobia was said to
have been kidnapped last month at about
1a.m. at her residence in Obiaruku in
Ukwuani Local Government Area of the
state in the presence of her husband,
Prof. Mokobia , who is also a staff of
DELSU.
The bandits were said to have
dispossessed Prof. Mokobia and other
members of the household of their cash
and other valuables including GSM
handsets, a situation that kept the victim
incommunicado longer than necessary.
But the hoodlums were later said to have
established contact with the pastor of
Mrs. Mokobia demanding for N20 million
ransom, which was negotiated to N1.2
million. However, acting on a tip off, men
of the Special Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the
state police command traced the gang to
the house where the ransom was to be
deposited.
Confirming the arrest of the suspects, the
state Commissioner of Police, Ikechukwu
Aduba said, “the suspected kidnappers
upon sighting the squad, opened fire and
in the hot exchange of gunfire that
ensued, one of the suspects later
identified as Vote suffered fatal gun shot
injuries. Three other female suspects
were arrested.”
Aduba said the N1.2 million ransom, in
addition to a locally made double-
barrelled pistol and 50 rounds of
cartridges were recovered from the
suspects, saying investigation into the
matter was still ongoing.