Soldiers nab 5 suspected kidnappers of timber merchant

Suspected kidnappers paraded today at Ikeja Police Command.

Suspected kidnappers .

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Suspected kidnappers .
Suspected kidnappers .

Five suspected kidnappers a popular timber merchant have been arrested by soldiers of 19 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Sapele in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State.

The five suspects are alleged to have abducted a popular Sapele-based wood merchant known as Johnbull Iboyikporo.

The suspects include: Henry Osibo, Samson Ojiwo, Kingsley Okpako, Efe Odjigba Ogbeyen a.k.a. Ogbes and his girlfriend, Miss Mercy Iwari.

They were arrested at different times and locations.

It was found out that the victim was seized by three gunmen and taken on a motorcycle into the bush around Oruakpa pipeline, a suburb of Sapele, but the military reacted promptly following a tip off.

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Soldiers, in partnership with local vigilante, combed Gana area of Sapele and discovered the hideout of the suspects where the victim was tied, gagged and legs chained.

According to a senior military officer who does not want his name mentioned, “following a tip off on the 31 of January, the military troops raided a suspected bush behind Shell road, Sapele on a rescue operation and found the victim, Mr Johnbull Iboyikporo legs, hands, mouth and eyes tied by the kidnappers and was rescued unhurt by the soldiers.”

He revealed that Henry Osibo, Samson Ojiwo and Kingsley Okpako were arrested on the spot with two cut to size locally made guns and a 70mm cartridge.

The source said a follow up led to the arrest of the alleged syndicate leader, Efe Odjigba Ogbeyen a.k.a. Ogbes and his girlfriend, Miss Mercy Iwari at a popular hotel in the area.

Officers of the 19 Battalion of the Nigerian Army have declared a manhunt to apprehend one of the suspects simply called Mr Owhor whose photograph was allegedly recovered during the operation and described as a most notorious criminal and leader of a kidnapping gang in Sapele and its environs.

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