Police have arrested five suspects in connection with abduction of Prof. Kamene Okonjo in Delta State, the state Commissioner of Police, Ikechukwu Aduba told Daily Sun yesterday in Asaba. The 82-year-old mother of the Coordinating Minister of the Economy/Minister of Finance, Prof. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was kidnapped by 10 gunmen at the gate of her husband’s palace in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State on December 9. She regained freedom on December 14. Mr. Aduba said one suspect whose name he simply gave as Andrew a. k. a Olokpa was arrested last week in Asaba, Delta State capital.
According to him, four suspects were earlier arrested during the rescue operation that led to the freedom of Prof. Okonjo “The first day, we arrested four suspects including two known criminals, Bright and Bolaji. Bolaji is now late because of the gun shot injuries he sustained while trying to escape. These two were earlier involved in the kidnap of a victim who they killed after collecting ransom from the family.
“The one we arrested about three days ago is one Andrew aka Olokpa who hails from Edo State. Initially, he told us that he was contacted to supply food to the victim in the bush but now he has confessed that he was part of the planning that led to the abduction. “These are known ruffians and they are in our custody. We will get the others who are still hiding because we have a database on them. Investigations are still ongoing. Surely, we must get to the root of this matter,” he vowed.
On claims that the ransom allegedly paid had torn the gang apart, Aduba said he was not aware if ransom was paid to the hoodlums, saying that the police would not support the payment of ransom. It was being speculated that there was disagreement over the sharing formula of the ransom allegedly paid to the hoodlums as the new kingpin following the death of Bolaji bolted away with the loot meant for others. Meanwhile, a 4-man armed robbery gang at the weekend snatched a Toyota Venzua belonging to an Asaba-based politician and socialite, Mr. Nwanze Oduah.
The bandits operating in a red coloured Audi car were said to have trailed Mr. Oduah before intercepting him around Cable Point area of Asaba. Some of the robbers alighted from their vehicle and forced their way into Mr. Oduah’s car. Narrating his ordeal to journalists, Oduah stated that he was sandwiched by the gun wielding men who drove his car to the Asaba International Airport where they ordered him to alight while the armed robbers drove the Toyota Venza to an unknown destination. Although, Oduah stated that the robbery had been reported to the police, Public Relations Officer of the state command, ASP Famous Ajieh stated that he was yet to be briefed on the development.
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