Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Edo State Security Corp has nabbed three kidnappers in Uromi, Esan North East Local Governments Area of Edo State.
The arrest was made following several complaints by resident of high rate of kidnapping in the area.
Speaking to journalist in Benin City, the Commander Edo State Security Corp, a retired Commissioner of Police Friday Ibadin said his men achieved this feat as they responded to a distress call made by a woman.
He said that after the call, she hid in the bush while his men rescued her, keep her in a safe place before swiftly arresting those involved as the victim identified them.
Ibadin said that his men arrested three of the seven young men who invaded the woman’s resident in Uromi to kidnap her.
He however said him and his men have done their part as the three men will be handed over to the police for further investigation into the alleged Kidnapping in Uromi.
He further advised other criminals in the State that Edo will be too hot for them unless they relocate to other State.
“We have had series of complains from Esan land about frequent kidnapping and other forms of criminality in the areas following these complains, our men were mobilized to embarked on patrol and bush combing of the area three days ago.
“On our way to Esan land, exactly at Ugoneki in Uhunmwonde Local Governments area when I got a call from a distress lady who identified herself as Mrs. Ufuha Rita who cried for help as kidnappers are in her house to kidnap her sent by leader of Esan Awareness Group created by one Mr. Bruce who lives in Sweden.
“She spoke to us from her hiding place in Uromi, we drove down and rescued her, put her in our vehicle.
” She said she knows them and she took us to their various houses at night to pick three of the seven that came to her place to kidnap her.
“The victim said the group created by Bruce is working against the security of Esan people claiming to be securing them while criminal activities is on the increase particularly in Uromi.
“She made her position known and her life is now threatened by the group.
“Those arrested have made past revelation of their kidnapping prowess and we will handover them to the police as we have done our part as the police will take over from here to investigate the matter.
“They claim to be working with the police we have not gotten any message or calls from the police in Uromi, it shows they lied.
“There is a law backing Edo State Security Corp as a group and any other security outfit, organ or agencies in the state must get approval here as we are the approving body as such all the security body being constituted by Mr. Bruce is illegal”.
The victim Mrs. Ufuha Rita thanked the Edo State Security Corp for saving her life calling on the relevant security agencies to save her from the hands of Esan Awareness Group formed for the purpose of securing the people.
She noted that since the group was formed kidnapping and other criminal activities has become a recurrent decimal in the area. “Because I advised the leader of the group, he now sent men to my house to kidnap me”.
Asene Ogah 49 years; Ibhafidon Eric 29 year; and Ekpu Godfrey 44 year who were arrested in connection with the kidnap explained their level of involvement.
Ekpu Godfrey confessed to have kidnapped in time past but no longer involved in kidnapping.
Two locally made pump action guns was found with the suspect.