Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested five suspected kidnappers over the alleged killing of an abducted victim, Smart Nwashiri, 29, after collecting N200,000 ransom.
DAILY POST reports that the Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye disclosed this while parading the suspects before newsmen in Benin City.
Adegboye gave the names of the suspects as Goodluck Ojieh, 37, (gang leader), Lucky Enagbonmien, 37, Victory Okoro, 32, Sunday Ernest, 32, and Daniel Udi, 29.
He said the suspects committed the crime in Ologbo community in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, near Benin City.
The commissioner told newsmen that the suspects, who hail from Delta State but reside in Edo State, lured the victim into their hideout on the pretence of selling vehicle parts to him.
He said the suspects were tracked and arrested in Delta State after a high-driven investigation.
“The victim was lured on June 17, 2024, by the gang leader to a location at the Ologbo area where the other gang members were waiting, on the pretext that they wanted to sell a vehicle catalyst (aka “Indomie”) to him.
“The victim has been a serial receiver of this item and other stolen items from the suspects,” he said.
The CP said the suspects conspired, kidnapped the victim, and demanded a ransom of N1 million but ended up collecting N200,000 before using a dagger to kill him.
He added that they later buried the victim in a shallow grave, in a bid to cover their crime.
Adegboye said the corpse and motorcycle of the murdered victim have been recovered.
He added that the suspects have confessed to the crime, noting that they would be charged in court as soon as the investigation is concluded.
In an interview with journalists, the gang leader said they decided to kill the victim to avoid being caught because the man knew them.