The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps’ Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad has arrested 70 suspects for their various involvements in kidnapping, rape, logistics supplies, and criminal disposition in the Okpella area of the Esouko East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The Commandant of the CG’s Special Intelligence Squad, Commandant Apollo Dandaura told journalists that the ordeal of unraveling the mysterious force behind the kidnapping of innocent people by criminal elements who disguised themselves as illegal miners and charcoal vendors in the Okpella area of Edo State.
He said: “Following the directive of the Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi mni. OFR, on an aggressive onslaught against unscrupulous elements terrorizing the peace of Edo State and those culpable for the massacre of 8 personnel attached to BUA Cement Company last month.
“The CG’s Special Intelligence Squad, led by Commandant Dandaura, collaborated with the men of the Nigerian Army and the General Manager of BUA International Cement, Mr. Richard Gidado, to launch an aggressive onslaught against the crime perpetrators.
“During the clearance operation, the team uncovered and dismantled some criminal hideouts used for housing kidnapped victims, though some of the kidnappers maneuvered outside the area, giving room for the rescuing of victims and one Mrs. Agbe Matar, who had been in captivity for over 7 days.”
The CG’s SIS Commandant hinted that the rescued victims lamented their encounter as Mrs Agbe Martha narrated how she was kidnapped alongside her sister while working on their farmland in the Ichoke area of the Itsukwi community in Etsako East LGA of Edo State”.
According to her, “Over 5 armed men stormed their rice plantation looking like herders and held her and her sister-in-law hostage while her husband, Paschal Agbe, escaped.”
Agbe relayed that upon their arrival at the kidnappers’ den, they were subjected to severe torture and malhandling by the kidnappers, who later demanded a 30 million Naira ransom before they could be released.
As the CG’s SIS Commandant and his men reunited Mrs Martha Agbe and other victims with their families, the paramount ruler, His Royal Highness Usman Suleiman, the Ogei-Ochi III of Itsukwi Kingdom, with so much excitement lauded the pragmatic leadership of the NSCDC Commandant General for bringing hope and peace back to the area.
In his response, Commandant Dandaura noted that collaborative efforts in dismantling the kidnap syndicate and their criminal hideouts in the area underscore the CG’s commitment to combating crime and criminalities as well as ensuring the protection of lives and property of citizens in Edo state and, by extension, the nation at large, noting that further investigation and diligent prosecution would be carried out in due course.
