Two Policemen Arrested for Kidnapping in Delta

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba
Two policemen have been arrested and are currently being interrogated in connection with the alleged kidnapped of an Asaba-based businessman in the university town of Abraka in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

The two policemen, both of the rank of corporal attached to the Mobile (MOPOL) unit 31 of Delta State Police Command in Ogwashi-Uku, were said to have carried out the criminal activity in collusion with two civilians who were still at large, last Tuesday.

THISDAY learnt that the two policemen were arrested at Okpara-Waterside, about 40 kilometers from Abraka where the victim was allegedly abducted at Holy Cross Street, identified as Mr. Daniel Umukoro, by the special anti-kidnapping committee established by the Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA).

The two policemen, identified as Corporal Musa Edon and Corporal Oreva Idide, were reportedly apprehended by a team of the DTHA peace and anti-kidnapping committee following a tipoff by eyewitnesses in Abraka who reportedly heard unusual gunshots during the abduction of the victim.
The special security team eventually swooped on them at the Okpara-Waterside hideout, arresting the two policemen while their two civilian accomplices allegedly escaped arrest.

They arrested policemen were first taken to Ughelli Police Area Command where they were transferred to the state police headquarters in Asaba for further investigation, it was further gathered.
The acting spokesman of the state police command, Mr. Daniel Aniamaka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the report in a telephone chat with THISDAY yesterday afternoon, saying the two policemen were still being quizzed.

However, Aniamaka said the two policemen were being disciplined for “misconduct and illegal duty” and undergoing what he called “orderly room trial” for their involvement in the illegal act.
According to the acting police public relations officer (PPRO), one of the two suspects, David Ostill at large allegedly contacted one of the mobile policemen, Corporal Idide, to help him obtain a debt allegedly owed him by the abducted Umukoro after an nuclear business deal they did together.

“Yes, it is a fact that there was such as an allegation, that two f our officers were arrested”, Aniamaka said, adding, “but it is the case bordering on conduct or misconduct or illegal duties; that is the terms I would like to use to summaries the incident.”

The spokesman, who stressed that “the police will not shield any of our officers involved in any misconduct”, noted that one David Udivwre, who resides in Asaba, actually “contracted Idede, who in turn co-opted Musa to adduct the victim and complainant, Daniel Umukoro” who was at the time in the company of friends at Abraka.

Serving and former security officers, including soldiers were reportedly recently arrested and paraded by Nigeria Police authorities in Abuja in connection with the ransom kidnapping of Mrs. Margaret Emefiele, wife of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele on the Bein-Asaba Expressway late in September, 2016.

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