Metro
Police arrests 3 over alleged abduction of travelers, corps member in Rivers
Police operatives in Rivers have arrested three suspected persons over their alleged abduction of travelers in the state.
The police also accused the suspects of abducting a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving in Rivers and orchestrating several armed robberies along the Port Harcourt-Owerri road.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mustapha Bala, disclosed this at a news conference on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.
He said the arrest of the suspects followed a recent crackdown on criminals on the road which is known for violent attacks on motorists.
The CP said: “The suspects – Blessing Akpelu alias NTA, 28; Wisdom Amadi, 28; and Precious Ebee, 30, all natives of Egbeda in Emohua LGA, Rivers, are now in police custody.
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“They operate by setting up illegal roadblocks to trap unsuspecting travellers on the Port Harcourt–Owerri Road, robbing them and holding them for ransom.
“The suspects were under police surveillance following an alarming rise in kidnappings, including the abduction of the NYSC member and two others along the Elele/Omerelu axis of the expressway.”
Bala added that Akpelu and Ebee were arrested on October 17, while the gang leader, Amadi, was arrested two days later.
He said the suspects had confessed to the crime and were assisting the police to track fleeing members of the gang.
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