Kidnap kingpin, Kelvin, trained over 300 abductors – Suspect

Richard (left) and other suspects. Inset: The arms and ammunition

Apkpevwe Richard (a.k.a 2 Mark), a self-confessed member of the gang of the kidnap kingpin, Kelvin Onyiara, on Tuesday said Onyiara had over 300 trained abductors spread across several cells in the country.

Onyiara, who was arrested by security forces last month, is said to be responsible for the abduction of human rights lawyer, Mr. Mike Ozekhome, (SAN).

Richard, 22, was paraded alongside other suspected criminals by men of the 4 Brigade/Sector 1 Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, in Benin, Edo State.

Also a native of Kokori, in Delta State, where Onyiara hails from and from where he operated freely until his arrest, Richard told PUNCH Metro that the group’s “operations” had not stopped since Kelvin’s arrest.

He confessed  to the abduction of a prominent security expert, Ona Ekhomu, and his wife, Victoria, and to being part of a cell that abducted Edo State High Court Judge, Daniel Okungbowa. Richard also said he was recruited into the gang by one Rufus.

At the time of his arrest, the suspect was said to be in possession of a cache of arms, ammunition, a Prado Sports Utility Vehicle, which was allegedly identified by Okungbowa as his, a BMW car, marked Lagos GC 484 EKY, charms and other items.

The 4 Brigade Public Relations Officer, Capt Roselyn Managbe, said, “As part of our efforts to combat crime, 19 Battalion troops deployed in Kokori community in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, on October 18, 2013, following a tip-off on the kidnap of Ekhomu and his wife, on the Benin-Auchi road, arrested Richard after a gun duel.

“During the course of investigation, the suspect, who is from Okweiraka Village, Kokori, Delta State, confessed to the abduction of Ekhomu and his wife, who were rescued unhurt by the JTF.

“Richard said he was an Okada rider before going into illegal bunkering. He eventually, graduated as a kidnapper under the tutelage of Onyiara, who was arrested sometime in September 2013 by the Joint Army and Directorate of Security Service in Port-Harcourt.”

Also paraded were three suspected arms dealers, Ernest Egbenayaloben, Osagie Igiemwin and Mathew Iyekepelor, for alleged gun-running and one Kefas Warili, for parading himself as a military personnel.

Others arrested by the troops included suspected illegal bunkerers, who were allegedly intercepted with a tanker loaded with 15,000 litres of substance suspected to be illegally refined Automated Gasoline Oil.

Managbe said the alleged oil bunkerers, Barry Adiotonme and Saturday Ukpebor, were apprehended while trying to bribe troops with N200, 000 to secure the release of the tanker.

She also said the suspected arms dealers had been operating under the cover of dealing in building materials from their stores in Benin City.

Managbe said, “On October 18, 2013, a patrol team of Operation Thunder Storm, acting on a tip-off, arrested Egbenayaloben (a.k.a Ebo), Igiemwin and Iyekepelor. These men had earlier escaped arrest on April 9, 2013, when troops of Operation Thunder Storm raided stores at No. 4, Jegede Lane, off Lagos Street, Benin City, Edo State.

“It was established that the suspects used the sales of building materials as cover to perpetrate their illicit business of arms selling. They have confessed to the crime.”

Egbenayaloben told PUNCH Metro that he sold weapons and cartridges to people in Benin City, adding that he normally got his supplies from one Abiola, at Onitsha market, in Anambra State.

Igiemwin, in his confessional statement, also admitted to being in the business of arms dealing for years. He also said he was being supplied by one Eugene, at Onitsha Market.  Also known as External Oga Na Master, Iyekepelor is said to be the alleged kingpin of arms and ammunition dealers in Benin City.

Other items recovered from the suspected criminals included one AK 47 riffle, three AK 47 magazines, one long barrel gun, one pistol, 6, 965 live cartridges, 266 rounds of 5.65mm ammunition, 14 empty cases of 7.62mm (special), nine FN magazines, one police fragmented jacket, 16 GSM phones, five extra GSM phone batteries/one GLO SIM card and two handbags.

PUNCH