Kidnappers kill manager after collecting N10m, dump corpse in river …as police arrest seven suspects

Operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT), have arrested seven suspected kidnappers for allegedly abducting and killing the production manager of Niger Delta Petroleum Resources

The deceased, Mr Ubani Onyema 64, was abducted on October 16, by gunmen in Woji Port Harcourt.

The suspects, who are in police custody have been identified as Nduka Alaribe 34, aka Abiola, the gang leader, Godstime Eme 35, Nkere Uwam, 38, Wisdom Uchechi Chidi, 35, Ayakazi Woyin-Kuro, 32, Okpako Emperor, 37 and Adimibe Kanayo, 30.

Items recovered from them includes; one AK47 rifle and the two vehicles used in the abduction of Onyema. Police are making efforts to arrest other fleeing gang members. The suspects confessed to have dumped Onyema’s body into the river after they realized he was dead.

The police further said: “Alaribe, the gang leader is the person that used to organize the kidnap operations. He is in charge of recruiting hostage keepers. He is also the person that brought the two cars used for the abduction of the Ubani. He led his gang members to pick up the ransom. Eme is the second in command. He is a university graduate. He purchased the pre-registered SIM, which he used in negotiating for ransom and pick up of ransoms. Eme is also in charge of monitoring movement of late Ubani Onyema on the day of his kidnap. Uwam, on the other hand, is the mastermind behind the abduction of Ubani Onyema. He worked in the same company with Ubani. Chidi is a notorious leader of Greenlanders Cult, terrorising Ahoda-East Local Government Area. He provided the arms used in the kidnap. Woyin-Kuro assisted in the recruitment of gang members. Emperor, who also worked in the same company as Ubani, was part of the plot to kidnap Ubani. Kanayo also worked in the company and was part of the plot to abduct Ubani.”  

The kidnappers were said to have demanded for N100million ran, but family members negotiated to N10million. The family paid the money without asking for proof of life

When Onyema was not released after his family members paid the N10m ransom, they became worried and wrote a petition to the IGP, Ibrahim Idris.

The IGP alerted IRT operatives, led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Abba Kyari. The team immediately swung into action.

A police source said: “It was due to unrelenting follow up by the IRT operatives that seven among the suspected kidnappers were eventually arrested. The suspects confessed to various roles each played in the kidnap, and admitted that the hostage, Ubani Onyema, died on the very day of his kidnap as a result of gunshot wounds he sustained while the suspects were attempting to abduct him. Knowing he was dead, the kidnappers still went ahead to collect ransom of N10m.”