IRT arrests five notorious kidnappers, after collecting N5m ransom

Detectives attached to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT), have arrested a five man gang of kidnappers responsible for series of attacks in the South-East and South-South.


Their arrest was sequel to the kidnap and release of one Chief Felix Ogbonna. The kidnappers were alleged to have collected N5million ransom from Ogbonna’s family.

After the victim was released, the IGP, Ibrahim Idris directed the officer in charged IRT, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, to investigate and bring all those behind the kidnap to justice.

Kyari swung into action, and with the help of technical support, the suspects were tracked to their hideout in Aba, Abia State, where they were arrested.

The Force Public Relations Officer (PRO), Moshood Jimoh, said that one AK47 rifle, and several magazines/ammunition, the gang's operational vehicle, a Lexus 300 jeep, and a Toyota Sienna Bus were recovered from the gang.

Jimoh, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), said that efforts was on to arrest members of the gang who fled before the arrival of the police team.

Jimoh said: “Chief Felix Ogbonna, 80, was abducted on November 26, 2017. He was later released after an undisclosed ransom was paid. But with the technical support from Technical Intelligent Unit Operatives of IGP Intelligence Response Team IRT, who were deployed by IGP Ibrahim Idris swung into action. The team eventually arrested five gang members of the new kidnap syndicate.

"The kidnappers confessed to have started their kidnapping operations this November 2017 and had been involved in three kidnappings in Aba, Abia State and that they have collected ransoms of N250, 000, N1million and N5.5million equivalent in dollars respectively.  The suspects further confessed to have carried out random kidnapping based on the nature of the vehicle being driven by their targets.”
 Suspects’ names and roles played are as Follows: Samuel Chikaodi James, aka Chiboy 29, is the second in command. He was also the driver of the operational vehicle used in the kidnaps, the negotiator of ransoms and goes to pick the ransoms for the gang. He has received N3million so far.
Justice Irish, aka Mopol, 23, was charge of snatching and securing hostages in the vehicle up to the kidnap den. He got N300, 000 as his own share.
Ikechukwu Igwebuike, aka Anambra, 22, is also involved in the snatching of victims and securing them in the vehicle up to the kidnap den. He got N300, 000.
 Chikachi Ubani, 30, was in charge of the stronghold/detention camp where hostages were kept. Chineye Mark, 45, a panel beater, used to hide their operation vehicle in his workshop. He received N150, 000 as his own share.