Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ben Nobolisa Okolo, has paraded a kidnap gang led by a notorious kidnapper, identified as Ikechukwu Ewa (Alias John Lion).
The police boss said that the gang had been involved in 10 high profile kidnapping cases within the period in question.
Mr. Okolo, while parading some of the suspects at the Command’s Headquarters at a press briefing, in Yenagoa, on Monday, maintained that the gang had carried out the heinous crime kidnapping several Bank Managers, while collecting millions of Naira in ransom.
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The said that the gang was apprehended by operatives of ‘Operation Restore Peace’ of the Command.
“After painstaking investigations, operatives of Operation Restore Peace of the Command arrested three suspects including Emmanuel Charles Angase, a native of Azuzuama community in Southern Ijaw council. He also said other members of the gang were currently on the run.
According to Mr. Okolo, on 8th December, 2020, one Akeeb Oladele Olushola, 48, and Manager of a new generation bank was kidnapped at his residence at Old Commissioners Quarters, Opolo.
The bank Manager was said to have been released December 12 after paying a ransom of N80 million.
Also kidnapped for 14 days and released after paying a ransom of N60 million was Danjuma Omeje, 41, also a Manager of a new generation bank, in Yenagoa.
Emmanuel Charles Angase, a native of Azuzuama Community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, leader of the kidnapping gang, reportedly operates a kidnapping camp at Sunikiri creek near Oluasiri in Nembe Local Government Area with his second in command one Gbalipre Gamage is now at large.
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The police boss said that Charles, the gang leader, confessed that on the June 30, 2022, himself, John Ewa and others at large accosted Danjuma Omeje at the entrance of his house at Okaka, kidnap him and fled in a Blue Toyota Corolla Car with REG NO KJA 225 AY.
They took the victim to his camp at Sunikiri Oluasiri, and released him on July 14, 2022, after collecting N 60 million ransom.
The police commissioner further disclosed that the suspect also confessed to the kidnap of Akeeb Oladele Olusola, a banker and Nancy Keme Dickson, who was kidnap on 26th December 2015. He also confessed to the kidnap of Chinonso Eze and other Igbo businessmen.
Items recovered from the suspects a brand new Toyota Avalon Charles bought for his wife with the proceed of ransom he collected.
John Ikechukwu Ewa, 30, aka John Lion, a native of Eruan community in Boki council, Cross River State, known for flamboyant lifestyle on social media, a former cleaner with a new generation Bank, confessed to have collected 10 Thousand US Dollars from the ransom collected in the kidnap of Danjuma Omeje.
While Innocent Kingsley, 31, a native of Egbu Community Itche LGA, Rivers State. The owner of a Blue Toyota Corolla Car with REG NO KJA 225 AY and one Timi Werikumo, 21, a native of Azuzuama Community Southern Ijaw council, in Bayelsa State.
Others paraded during the pressing briefing for cultism and murder-related offences included.
Richard Derigha, 36, Charles Francis, 25, Collins Ugochukwu, 28, Timipa Perewari, 22, and Clement Demepo, 23.
They were arrested in connection with a cult clash between Greenlanders and Bobos Cult groups at Obele Street, Yenagoa, where a member of Bobos Cult Group was killed.
Okolo says they all confessed to the killing of the victim and membership of Bobos Cult Group.
A locally-made pistol, Black beret and other cult insignia were recovered from the suspects by Operatives of ‘Operation Restore Peace’ who were there on a distress call.
Mr. Okolo who was elated with the recent break though in criminal activities by command noted that the Command was confronted with reported cases of kidnaping, armed robbery and cultism and this informed the re-organisation of the command the positive outcome on crime busting in the state.
“I re-jig the security strategy with a special focus on tackling kidnapping and armed robbery.
“The strategy has paid off with the recent arrest of members of a notorious kidnapping gang by operatives of ‘Operation Restore Peace’.”