By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
ONE kidnap suspect, Eseoghene Ezekiel Obeje, believed to be a member of the Eiye confraternity, has been arrested for allegedly faking his own kidnap in Delta State, Nigeria.
The 28-year-old is believed to have masterminded the abduction of his sister-in-law who was later murdered after the payment of N1.3m.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bright Edafe, made the disclosure in a statement on Sunday.
He said: “The Command has been investigating the murder of one Regina Ogana ‘f’ who was kidnapped alongside her husband and other members of her family on 02/08/2023.
“The Command received another distress call from the husband of the deceased that one of his brothers Eseoghene Ezekiel Obeje ‘m’ aged 28 made a suspicious call to him that he was kidnapped and that the kidnappers were demanding a ransom of Five Hundred Thousand Naira only (#500,000) and Money was transferred into the said Eseoghene’s account as his ransom.
“The Commissioner of Police CP Wale Abass gave a marching order to the DPO Oreropke Division to embark on an intelligence-led investigation and ensure that the perpetrators are arrested.
“Consequently, on 11/08/2023, at about 1145hrs acting on technically-generated information, operatives of the Divisional Anti-Crime Patrol team led by the DPO CSP Paul E. Oboware stormed Odovie community Ughelli North LGA and arrested the said Eseoghene Ezekiel Obeje at the same spot where the sum of One Million Three Hundred Thousand Naira (#1,300,000.00) was earlier paid as ransom for the release of his elder brother and husband of the deceased.
“Investigation revealed that the said Eseoghene is a member of Eiye confraternity, he faked his own kidnapped and is also suspected to have masterminded the kidnap of his brother and other family members which led to the death of Regina Ogana.
“The suspect is in custody and investigation is ongoing.”
