By Nosa Ereson,  Asaba

 Though the fate of the four missionaries kidnapped in Burutu LGA of Delta State remains uncertain, the  Police Command hints they may be on the trail of the kidnappers. 

 Mr. Zanna Ibrahim, the Police Commissioner in the state who addressed journalists  in Asaba, explained that intelligence revealed the kidnappers, a 5-man armed gang suspected to be members of “Karowel Militants” stormed Enukorowa creek community in Burutu Local Government Area of the state and kidnapped four white missionaries; Dr. David Donavan, Chilly Donavan, Alana (surname unknown), and Tyan (surname unknown) who were engaged in preaching, and giving free medical treatment in the area in the last three years. 

 The police boss added that the kidnap of the four white missionaries may not be unconnected with the current onslaught on militants activities embarked upon by the military code “operation crocodile smile” saying that efforts were being made in conjunction with the Joint Taskforce (JTF) towards ensuring the victims’ rescue, the police said manhunt for the kidnappers had been intensified with a view to ensuring they are rescued unhurt. 

 Meanwhile, with no few than forty-three kidnap/robbery/ murder suspects paraded before journalists, the Police Commissioner said that crime rate which used to be very high in the state, had declined considerably, adding that successes that have recorded over the years, were efforts from useful and intelligence gathering. 

 Expectedly, the Police disclosed that four kidnap suspects; Emmanuel Julius, 27 years, Goodluck Okpa 22 years, Akadhe Henry 21 years, and Johnson Amalaka 34 years old were recently arrested in connection with the kidnap of one Ruth Edemagbata 19 years old and resident of Isioghe Street, Ozoro. 

 Accordingly, the Police Boss added that on 19/07/2017, one Felicia Oyibo, the mother of the victim, Ruth Edemogbata returned from market with her Toyota Rav 4 Jeep with registration number KSF182DC when her daughter (victim) came out of their house to welcome her mother, a kidnapping syndicate led by Emmanuel Julius (Alias RED Boyii) accosted them at gun point, and kidnapped her into the Rav 4 Jeep, before he zoomed off to an unknown destination. 

 “We intensified search for the kidnappers, and three persons, Friday Joe, Rukevwe Emeka and Oghenevo Odirome were arrested by Eagles-net Patrol Team of the police in connection with the case, and the suspects upon interrogation, confessed to the crime and made useful statements to the police that led to the arrested of the earlier mentioned gang members” the Police Boss added. 

 On kidnapping/murder; the Police Commissioner said that one Halilu Isaku 30 years, Nyale Mohammed 25 years, and Mohammed Shumu, have arrested in the kidnap of one Emeka Chimaokwu 64 years old in plot 59 Housing Estate Asaba. 

 According to the police boss, Emeka Chimaokwu was kidnapped by unknown armed man along Idumuje Unor road, Issele-Uku, adding that the police acting on a tip-off, the victim’s phone was tracked, and one Nyale Mohammed of Kogi State was arrested, and confessed upon interrogation to the crime; a situation he mentioned his gang members. 

 He said that the suspects led the investigating team to the bush where the decomposing body of the victim was found where it was hidden with bamboo leaves inside a forest at Atuma Quarters, Idumuje-Unor after he strangled to death as the corpse of the victim had been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba for autopsy. 

 The suspects were said to have also confessed to the kidnap of one Engineer Charles Chukwuemeka Eze on the 22/5/2017 along Idumuje-Unor Idumuje-Ugboko road, and Rev Fr. Andrew Annah of Sacred Catholic Church Obomkpa on 1/8/2017 along Obomkpa-Issele Uku road. 

 On robbery, the police boss said that three persons; Friday Miri, 25 years, Friday John 20 years, and Blessing Shaluong, 31 years, all of Nnamdi Block Industry, express road Issele-Uku were arrested in connection with robbing one Chibueze Okocha 40 years old of Idumuje-Unor. 

 Accordingly, one of the suspects, Nnamdi Mohanye of 3, Onye Street, off NYSC Camp road Issele-Uku, reported at Issele-Uku Divisional Police Headquarters, that the Manager of his Filing Station, Bukian-More Petrol Filing Station along Benin/Asaba Expressway, Issele-Uku, one Chibueze Okocha, 40 years old was found dead behind the filling station, and that the only guard on duty was one Friday Miri who absconded with his belongings overnight to far away lang tang in Plateau State, adding that two of the suspects have made confessional statements admitting that they committed the crime, and are presently under investigation. 

 On arson, the Police Commissioner disclosed that one Jonathan Esiuwu 21 years old of Daniel Obodo Street, Okolokotu Town, Okpe Local Government Area of the state. 

 He said that one Joy Godwin 36 years old was in her house sleeping when one Jonathan Esiuwu of Okuokoto Town came knocking on her door but she refused to open, adding that the suspect, instead, jumped into the compound through the fence, and forcefully entered her house, and attempted to rape her young sister Mercy Godwin, adding that the complaint hit him with a wood on his head, and the suspect, Jonathan Esiuwu came back and set the house ablaze. 

 Police boss however said that the State Command of the police has intensified the stop and search by its men and officers as a way of curbing the menace of robbery, kidnappings and other forms of criminal activities and dispelled as untrue the return of road blocks