3rd June, 2015
Jethro Ibileke/Benin
The police in Benin have arrested a 53-year old grandfather, Fred Ikhimu Arobi, suspected to be leader a notorious kidnap gang in Uromi, headquarters of Esan North East Local Government.
The suspect who claims to have 11 children, including two university graduates, was among suspects paraded by the State police command.
Fred who confessed to being a kidnapper while speaking to journalists at the police headquarters in Benin, said he was invited to join the gang by a boy he met at a burial ceremony, adding that, he was paid N300,000 in his first operation.
He further disclosed that one of their victim, 67-year-old Premie Eboigbe Ohakhena, who he said was his neighbor, was killed and burnt to ashes at their hideout in the bush, because his (Fred’s) brother died after stepping into a land dispute between them.
Among others paraded were two suspects, Sunny Owin and Saliu Momodu, of Eiye Confraternity who snatched a car with a view to using it to kill rival cult members.
Sunny who said he was not an armed robber, however confessed to being a cultist and that he actually wanted to kill a rival cult member, while Saliu said he was arrested after his girlfriend invited him.
Edo Police spokesman, Stephen Onwochei, said Fred was arrested after a painstaking investigation. He added that the suspects would be charged to court after investigation.