Police recover N1.5 million ransom paid to kidnappers, arrest 3

by Oge Okonkwo

File Photo: Police
File Photo: Police

Part of the ransom paid by employers of the five construction workers kidnapped on August 23 have been recovered by the Bayelsa state police command, on Thursday.

[READ: Free at last: Kidnapped Bayelsa workers regain freedom]

This information was disclosed by the state’s Commissioner of Police, Hilary Opara, to newsmen in Yenagoa, where he also said that three suspected kidnappers were also arrested.

[READ: Insecurity: 5 dredging workers kidnapped by gunmen in Bayelsa creek]

Mr. Opara said the police command had recovered N 1.45 million, which was part of the N 6 ransom fee paid by Beks Nig. Ltd and Sidom Ltd for the freedom of their five kidnapped workers.

Premium times reports:

He said that the police command was working on a strategy to free the captives unharmed, while the management of both firms defied the advice of the police not to offer ransom.

“While we were perfecting our strategy, the companies defied our counsel not to pay any ransom for their release. The firms went ahead to offer the kidnappers six million naira but when the police got to their hideout, we arrested three of them and recovered part of the ransom.

“Invariably, their other members escaped with part of the loot but we are certainly going to close in on them, we are on their trail.

“We executed this operation in a very professional manner, without firing a shot, we apprehended the suspects just like fowls and this should send the right signal to criminals.

“They assume that the creek is a safe haven for their nefarious activities but I want to say without mincing words that they are no more safe,” Mr. Opara said

The construction workers were working on a shoreline protection project at Opuama Community in the Southern Ijaw area of Bayelsa, with the police initially saying no ransom was paid for the release of the workers.

The police also paraded a suspected fake journalist who claimed to be working for Cable News Network (CNN). He is one of 21 suspected criminals arrested in the state in the past one month.

The suspected fake journalist, who identified himself as Paul Yempe, claimed to be a staff of Radio Rivers, contributing materials to CNN.

Mr. Opara said that the suspects would soon be charged to court.

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