Details of arrested Bayelsan kidnappers who flaunt wealth on social media
- gang targeted bank managers of new generation banks
Bayelsa State arrested a gang abducting and terrorizing residents.
The gang is believed to be responsible for over ten high-profile abductions in the State over seven years.
The police believe the gang was responsible for the abduction of a manager of a new generation bank, Akeeb Oladele Olushola, 48, kidnapped at his residence at Old Commissioners Quarters Opolo.
Olushola was released on 12 December 2020 after paying N80 million ransom.
The police investigation also showed that the group abducted Danjuma Omeje, 41, another manager of a new generation bank in Yenagoa, at his residence at Okaka, Yenagoa, on 30 July 2022.
He was released two weeks after he paid sixty million naira (60m).
The arrests were made by Operatives of Operation Restore Peace "through painstaking investigation," according to a police statement.
Emmanuel Charles Angase, 37, is believed to be the gang leader, a native of the Azuzuama community, Southern Ijaw local government area.
He operated a kidnapping camp at Sunikiri creek near Olusasiri in Nembe Local Government Area with his second in command, Gbalipre Gamage, who is at large.
The police have seized the brand new Toyota Avalon Emmanuel bought for his wife with what the police believed is the "proceed of ransom he collected."
He confessed to abducting John Ewa on 30 June at about 06:00hrs, kidnapped Danjuma Omeje at the entrance of his house at Okaka, and whisking him away in a Blue Toyota Corolla Car with Reg No KJA 225 AY.
Their victims were taken to his camp at Sunikiri Oluasiri.
The suspects confessed to abducting a banker, Nancy Keme Dickson, kidnapped on 26 December 2015, and an Igbo businessman, Chinonso Eze.
John Ikchukwu Ewa, 30, a native of the Eruan community in Boko Local Government Area of Cross River State, is known for his flamboyant lifestyle on social media.
He worked as a cleaner with a new generation bank before he ventured into the kidnapping business. He confessed to having collected ten million dollars ($10m) from ransom from Danjuma Omeje.
Another gang member, Innocent Kingsley, 31, a native of Egbu community Itche Local government area in Rivers State, is the owner of a Blue Toyota Corolla Car used in some of the abductions.
The youngest of the gang arrested was Timi Werikumo, 21, a native of Azuzuama community Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, in Bayelsa State.