3rd April, 2014
Jethro Ibileke/Benin
Three suspected kidnappers, including two who allegedly abducted an American citizen were Thursday paraded by the Edo state command of the State Security Services (SSS).
Also paraded were five internet fraud suspects, including four university undergraduates, two of them in their final year.
Edo State SSS Director, Mr. Bello Bakori who paraded the suspects before the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, said the suspects have confessed to the crimes.
“Three of the suspects were kidnappers. Two of them kidnapped an American citizen, while the other five were Internet Fraudsters whose stock-in-trade was to dupe unsuspecting members of the public through various scams,” Bakori said.
Governor Oshiomhole who hailed the Security agency for tracking down the kidnap suspects, assured the officers and men of the agency of government’s continued assistance in their fight against crime, kidnapping and other vices in the state.
“As a government, we will continue to give you all the support that you need to continue to do your best. Your men and officers are working round the clock to make our state safe. People who risk their lives to make others safe, only God can compensate them.
“We want to place on record the appreciation of the government and the people of the state for all that you are doing, taking risks, staying awake, so that the rest of our people can sleep with their eyes closed,” he said.
Sounding a note of warning to all parents, the governor noted that all parents “must keep our eyes on our children including those we think are adult because they are in the university. We must be interested in the company they keep and the places that they visit.”
Advising the young ones, he said, “I hope that other young people would learn from this experience that crime does not pay. When you commit a crime it would certainly be discovered. I have come here several times to see young men and women who as a result of greed want to become rich overnight, abandon their decent jobs and opt for crime.
“We need to talk to our parents to educate their children against the get-rich-quick syndrome. We will continue to campaign to our people to be careful,” he said.