Kidnapper says he made a fortune off crime

ayodele johnson

November 12, 2016 8:37 PM

The head of the kidnapping gang, Joshua Okoh said the criminal act he engaged in has brought him fast wealth.

A group of kidnappers.

A kidnapping suspect, Joshua Okoh along with members of his gang have been arraigned by the Delta State Police Command for their crimes.

According to Okoh, he had found the kidnapping business very lucrative and was on the verge of opening a private business when he was caught.

He blamed a bad economy for his reliance on the criminal act, and has stated that he never killed anybody.

“Kidnapping is like a business to me. Lack of job and bad economy forced me into crime. I almost became a millionaire from this business.

“I chose kidnapping because that is what I can do best. Now I am in trouble; but since I started this business, I’ve never killed anybody.

“What me and other gang members did was to just collect the ransom and let the person (victim) go.

“We did pity them, but we did not have any other option.

“I have carried out about five successful kidnappings and my share ran into millions of naira.

“I bought cars with the money and proposed to establish a business before this arrest.

“It is not as if we liked the job, but we were forced into crime by rich leaders and brothers who do not help, but would rather exhibit wealth in your presence.

“It will interest you to know that most people who are victims of kidnapping are set up by their own brothers and sisters who they refused to help, just like this one that led to our arrest.

“It was initiated by a brother of the woman she may have refused to assist," he said.

Zanna Mohammed Ibrahim, the state police commissioner said the suspects were arrested in connection to the abduction of a housewife in Warri.

ayodele johnson