Abductors of Diezani’s sister arrested

THE Rivers State Police Command has arrested a suspected
kidnapper, Benjamin Bob-manuel, who allegedly led the gang that
kidnapped Mrs. Osiya Agama, the sister of the Minister of Petroleum
Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
It was  learnt that Bob-Manuel, who was apprehended on
Sunday at Nembe Waterfront in Port Harcourt, was tracked for
several days before he was eventually arrested.
Agama, who had since regained her freedom, was allegedly abducted by
Bob-Manuel’s gang at Leventis Busstop, along the Port Harcourt-Aba
Expressway on her way home from an evening church service.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, who
confirmed the arrest of the suspect, added that the Bob Manuel’s
accomplice, Whokows Ekine, was apprehended by security operatives on
Monday.
Mohammad disclosed in a statement on Monday that a locally-made
pistol and a Toyota Highlander Sports Utility Vehicle were recovered
from the hideout of the hoodlums.
“The Rivers State Police Command wishes to inform members of the
public of the arrest of a notorious kidnapper the command has been
trailing for some time.
“He is Benjamin Bob-manuel; he was arrested around Nembe
Waterfront on November 9 at about 7.20pm. He is the leader of the
gang that abducted Osiya Agama, the sister to Diezani Alison-
Madueke, sometime in October.
“His accomplice, Whokows Ekine, was also picked today (yesterday)
in Port Harcourt, where one locally-made pistol and their operation
vehicle, a Toyota Highlander, were recovered.”
The state police spokesman explained that the hoodlums had confessed to
kidnapping the minister’s sister in October.
He warned criminals to stay away from the state or risk being caught
to face the wrath of the law.
He said, “They all confessed to the alleged abduction of Osiya Agama.
You will recall without boasting that when the command confirmed her
release, we made it categorically clear that sooner than later, we will get
them arrested.
“Efforts are in top gear to arrest their fleeing comrades in crime,”
Mohammad stated.
Meanwhile, the police in Delta State on Monday said they arrested two
armed robbery suspects at the Asaba tollgate and recovered one Lexus
300 Sports Utility Vehicle suspected to have been stolen from them.
A statement by Mr. Preston Roland of the Police Public Relations
Office, said, “The Special Anti-Robbery Squad Patrol team, while on
duty at the Asaba tollgate suspected and arrested one Adim Mowete
and Efe Idahosa who were driving in one Lexus 300 with number plate,
USL 705 HX.
“On interrogation, the suspects confessed that they snatched the said
vehicle from a pastor in Benin City the previous night. The suspects
also revealed that they were taking the said vehicle to a receiver at God
is Good Motor Park, Asaba, and led the team to the said motor park
where one Clement Edeh said to be an agent to the receiver was
arrested.
“The said Clement Edeh confessed that he came from Benue State with
his master, a Deputy Chairman of a local government in Benue State to
receive the stolen vehicle from the suspects.
“He added that the said deputy chairman escaped from the scene when
he (Clement Edeh) was arrested. The team later proceeded to Benin
City and arrested one Osato Orobosa in connection with the crime.”
In another development, the police in Asaba also said they arrested two
suspected armed robbers while attempting to rob some accident victims
along Benin – Asaba expressway.
The police statement read, “The Dragon patrol team 01 covering Issele-
Asagba/Obulu-Okiti/Issele-Uku, led by SP Anietie Eyoh, while on
patrol arrested one Chiejine Onwuemene, 26, while he was attempting to
rob some accident victims on the highway.
“The suspect confessed to the crime and led the team to their hideout
where they arrested other members of the gang, one Emmanuel Nwafor,
25 and Monday Ngwuzor, 62.”