Kidnapping is like a business to me- suspect
A suspected kidnapper has said that he earned money running into several millions of naira while he engaged in the criminal act.
He confessed that he bought cars with his earnings and that he was proposing to establish a private business before he was caught.
The suspect, Joshua Okoh, disclosed this when he was paraded by Police in Asaba, Delta State.
“What me and other gang members did was to just collect the ransom and let the person (victim) go. We did pity them, but we did not have any other option.”
“I have carried out about five successful kidnappings and my share ran into millions of naira. I bought cars with the money and proposed to establish a business before this arrest.
“It is not as if we liked the job, but we were forced into crime by rich leaders and brothers who do not help, but would rather exhibit wealth in your presence.”
“It will interest you to know that most people who are victims of kidnapping are set up by their own brothers and sisters who they refused to help, just like this one that led to our arrest. It was initiated by a brother of the woman she may have refused to assist.”
The suspect who hails from Udu Local Government Area of Delta State said he had two guns that the gang used.
He said that after each successful operation, the victim would be kept in their hideout located in a bush in Ekrehavwe town, Ughelli North Local Government Area.
Joshua, who was arrested with four other suspected members of his gang, namely, Anthony Oren, (alleged to be the vigilante boss of Orhakpo community in Ughelli North Local Government); ThankGod Okeperhie, Dennis (surname unknown and still at large) and Clement Efanyobera, said the devil manipulated him into crime.
Parading the suspects, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Zanna Mohammed Ibrahim, said the suspects were arrested in connection with the abduction of a housewife, Mrs. Judith Osayande, in Warri.
Ibrahim said that on October 30, 2016, Mrs. Osayande was kidnapped along Edjeba Road, Warri. He said that on November 2, 2016, while acting on a tip off, operatives of SARS in Asaba invaded Ejewu community in Udu Local Government Area and effected Joshua Okoh’s (aka Onos) arrest.
He said the suspect had confessed to the crime and that during a search of his house, N1.8m, being part of the ransom of N3m collected before releasing their last victim, was recovered.
Also recovered from the suspects was the victim’s Toyota Camry with number plate BEN 825JA, two guns, 13 live cartridges, and one Honda Accord belonging to the suspect.
