The Edo State Police Command has apprehended three members of a four-man kidnapping gang responsible for collecting over N75 million in ransom payments from 11 victims between January and April 2025.
Moses Yamu, the Police Command spokesperson, revealed to journalists in Benin City that the syndicate had been terrorizing Benin City and surrounding areas for months before their arrest.
The arrested suspects have been identified as Asemota Osamede, 38, Michael Tomminiwei, 43, and Kelly Aitoya, 34. Their capture came after they successfully extorted N7.5 million from Mrs. Vivian Diode, a sawmill operator at Eyean, Aduduwa along the Benin-Auchi road.
Details of the Kidnapping Operation
According to police reports, the suspects kidnapped Mrs. Diode on April 10, 2025. While holding her captive, they transferred N1.5 million from her bank account and demanded an additional N6 million from her family as ransom before releasing her.
BenriNews gathered that the gang's audacity extended beyond the initial kidnapping. A week after releasing Mrs. Diode, they contacted her family again, demanding another N3 million and threatening to either re-kidnap or assassinate her if the payment wasn't made.
This brazen follow-up threat prompted the family to report the incident to the police, leading to swift action by the anti-cultism unit of the command.
Weapons and Operations
Yamu disclosed that the suspects, who have confessed to their crimes, operated with one AK-47 rifle and two pump-action guns in Benin City. The investigation has been completed, and the suspects will soon face court proceedings.
Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, has reaffirmed the command's commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property, warning that there is no safe haven for criminals in the state.
This arrest represents a significant breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping in Edo State, which has seen several high-profile abduction cases in recent months.
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