Police arrest 13 suspects for kidnapping Benue Commissioner, others

No fewer than 13 people suspected to be kidnappers have been apprehended by policemen in connection with the kidnap of Commissioner of Housing/Urban Development, Ekpe Ogbu and others in Benue South senatorial district of Benue State.

It will be recalled that about five people were abducted within the senatorial district in December alone. Among them were; a Catholic priest, the Commissioner, his driver, aide and one other.

According to the statement issued by the Command spokesperson, Catherine Anene said that the commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Wale Abass had directed the deployment of tactical teams to southern part of the state to address kidnap syndicates grouping in the area.

The statement read in parts, “As a result of this deployment men of Operation Zenda JTF have trailed and arrested people in connection with the case of Kidnap that happened on 4th December 2022 involving the Commissioner for Housing/ Urban Development, Hon. Anthony Ogbu.

“One Mohammed Usman Omachoko, who specializes in preparing protection charms for kidnappers, David Ejembi, Aondongu Akighir AKA “Too Proud” and Teryima Peter were arrested while they were on their way to purchase guns for the group.

“Further investigation led to the arrest of nine other gang members, two locally made Baretta pistol loaded with 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition were recovered from them. Suspects confessed to the crime,” the statement added.

Anene said that the CP urged people of the state to provide useful information to the police to enable them fish out hoodlums within their communities.