Two suspects identified as Sunday Chukwu and Chidokwe Efide, arrested by the police for allegedly kidnapping a businesswoman, Maris Ibe, in Delta State, have blamed joblessness for their acts.
The suspects were rounded up after collecting N1m ransom to free the victim kidnapped on January 14, 2021, around Ibori Golf Club, Asaba, the state capital.
The victim petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, after her release and operatives of the IG’s Intelligence Response Team were deployed in Delta State to hunt down the kidnappers.
The detectives reportedly recovered three locally-made guns, an axe, 10 unexpended cartridges and a sum of N320,000 from the suspects.
In his statement, 28-year-old Sunday Chukwuka, from Anambra State, said he used to be a farmer and sand miner before he was introduced to kidnapping and armed robbery by two friends identified simply as Ali and Muritala.
He stated, “They showed me their guns and took me to where they kept them. During the lockdown last year, they relocated to their hometown in Kogi State and left the guns behind. When things became difficult for me as the lockdown continued, I picked up the guns and called one of my friends, Efibe.
“We talked about forming a kidnapping gang. We then trailed a woman (Ibe) driving a nice car to her house and abducted her at the gate of her house. We took her into the bush. The woman called her husband and we demanded N500,000.
“She told her husband to increase the ransom to N1m and warned him not to involve the police. We became friendly with her. We neither beat her nor blindfold her. I collected the money from her salesgirl who brought it. I got N500,000 as my share of ransom and it is still in my back account. I wanted to rent an apartment with it. I was arrested three days after the operation. I have given my life to Christ and I want to turn a new leaf.”
