Police in Rivers State have arrested four suspected kidnappers, who allegedly killed a pastor, Chuckwu Ekere, for preaching to them to repent. They also raped and strangled a female victim. According to the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ahmad Muhammad, the kidnappers confessed to have kidnapped and murdered Ekere for asking them to repent. They also allegedly killed Mrs. Igila Sunday from the same village with Ekere. Muhammad, in a statement yesterday, identified the suspects as Henry Ajie (23), Bright Ajie (22), Dadison Ogadima (22) and Sampson The suspected pastor’s killers Dibia (30). He said: “The suspects were arrested on Sunday around 2a.m. at Ohinga community, Port Harcourt. The kidnappers confessed to the police that the pastor was disturbing them with his preaching. They said he also asked them to shun their kidnapping activities and accept God.” Muhammad explained that after the suspects kidnapped the woman, they raped and strangled her. They later buried her in a shallow grave in another community called Ogbosi “The suspects would soon be charged to court,” the PPRO added. Meanwhile, Muhammad also said the police arrested five suspected criminals and recovered dangerous weapons.
The arrest, according to him, came after a ‘string operation’ carried out by a team of policemen at Pipeline area, Ubima in Ikwerre Local Government on April 9. The PPRO gave the names of the suspects as Okachi Isaiah (33), Benjamin Ohahuru (33), Enyele Eze (45), Orakwu Innocent (28) and Ibuchi Would (32). He also listed exhibits recovered from them to include two AK47 rifles, one pump action gun, one Beretta pistol, 19 rounds of assorted live ammunition, three magazines and eight cartridges. According to him, preliminary investigation indicated the gang was responsible for a series of armed robberies and kidnappings at Ubima and its environs.
Source:newtelegraphonline.com
