A university graduate, Godstime Eme, has been arrested over an alleged link to the kidnap and killing of a production manager at the Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Company based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Mr. Ubani
Onyema.
Onyema was abducted late last year by some unknown gunmen while on his way home from work.
Our correspondent authoritatively gathered that Eme, 35, allegedly masterminded the abduction of Onyema, who later died in the custody of his abductors.
According to the Head, Police Intelligence Response Team, ACP Abba Kyari, who revealed details of the arrest of the suspects to our correspondent, Eme, the number two man of the gang, had initiated and organised the abduction, following a hint from an accomplice, Nkere Uwam, who worked at the same company with the victim.
the victim died on the very day of his kidnap as a result of gunshot wounds he sustained during the kidnapping and they still went ahead to collect a ransom of N10 million
It was gathered that Eme purchased a pre-registered sim which he used in negotiating with the family members of the victim for the ransom collected by
the gang.
Kyari said, “Eme was a key player in the kidnap of late Mr. Ubani Onyema. He monitored the movement of the victim on the day he was kidnapped. He purchased the pre-registered sim, which he used in negotiating for ransom and he was the person that went to pick up the ransom.
“The suspect claimed the victim died on the very day of his kidnap as a result of gunshot wounds he sustained during the kidnapping and they still went ahead to collect a ransom of N10 million.
“Eme is a graduate with a promising future. It is unfortunate that such a person could be engaged in this kind of a criminal
activity.”
Speaking further on the arrest of the suspect, the IRT head stressed that, following intensified efforts by the team, more arrests were made and other items recovered.
Kyari said, “Efforts by the IRT team eventually led to the arrest of other kidnappers. They confessed to various roles each played in the kidnap. Nkere Uwam, 38, worked in the same company with the victim and he confessed that he informed the gang of the movement of the victim. Wisdom Uchechi Chidi, 35, was a notorious leader of Greenlanders cult terrorising Ahoda-East local government area of Rivers State; he provided the arms used in the kidnap. Ayakazi Woyin-Kuro, 32, assisted in the recruitment of gang members. Okpako Emperor, 37, and Adimibe Kanayo, 30, both partly worked in the company of the victim. Their engagements were part of the plot to kidnap
Ubani.
“The suspects confessed that a ransom call was made to the hostage’s company, demanding N100 million, but was eventually negotiated down to N10 million, which was paid to the kidnappers despite not getting a proof of life.”
He added, “IRT operatives deployed to Port Harcourt by IGP Ibrahim Idris swung into immediate action as the hostage was not released after the ransom was paid as negotiated and agreed. Items recovered during the operation include one AK47 Rifle and the two vehicles used in the
kidnap.
“Effort is ongoing to arrest other fleeing gang members, recover remaining arms and the body of the victim, which they confessed to have dropped into
the river.”
