Police arrest 3 suspected kidnappers

The Benue State Police Command announced on Tuesday that it had arrested three suspected kidnappers in Makurdi. The Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr Austin Ezeani, gave the names of the suspects as Joseph Emeka,Oscar Ezeala and Sunday Nnaemeka.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that an army deserter was among the suspects.

Ezeani said that the suspects were caught while attempting to kidnap one Susan Audu from her residence in Makurdi. The spokesman said that a revolver pistol containing eight rounds of ammunition was found with the suspects.

Ezeani said that Audu was driving out of her residence in a Toyota Siena bus, when the gang of five people intercepted and dispossessed her of the vehicle. He said that they forcefully bundled her into the trunk of the vehicle and made their escape along Gboko road.

Ezeani said the suspects ran out of luck, following Audu’s screaming which attracted commercial motorcyclists, who gave a hot chase. He said the cyclists chased until they caught up with the vehicle at a military checkpoint in the outskirts of Makurdi, leading to the arrest of the suspects.

According to him, the suspects are now in detention at the Benue State Command headquarters, while a search has commenced for two fleeing suspects. He disclosed that one of the suspects still at large was an army lance corporal, serving at 82 Division of the Nigerian Army in Enugu.

Ezeani said the police had contacted the Army for the arrest of the fleeing suspect, assuring that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations into the matter were completed.