The police have arrested three suspects in connection with the kidnap of a Channels Television reporter, Mr Friday Okeregbe.
The Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Mr Frank Mba, in a statement on Sunday, identified the suspects as Hanniel Patrick, 29, from Akwa Ibom State; Abdulwahab Isah, 28; and Salisu Mohammed, 32, both from Kogi State.
He stated that the police also recovered from the suspected kidnappers a locally-made revolver gun, three live AK-47 ammunition, a battle axe, phones and masks, with which they blindfold their victims.
Mba added that efforts were being intensified to arrest other fleeing members of the gang.
He said, “In line with the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu’s stated commitment to curb all forms of crimes and criminality, especially incidences of kidnapping and other violent crimes in the country, police operatives attached to the Operation Puff Adder, acting on intelligence report, on April 9, around 6.30am, arrested three notorious persons involved in the kidnap of the Channels Television’s member of staff, Mr Friday Okeregbe.
“Meanwhile, investigation reveals that Okeregbe was not originally the intended target of the vicious criminals. However, on that fateful day, March 22, 2019, around 7.45pm, he was kidnapped when the kidnappers saw him parking his vehicle at a location in Lugbe, Abuja.
“Investigation further revealed that the victim was taken to the kidnappers’ den somewhere in Karimo, Abuja, and kept incommunicado afterwards.”
Mba quoted Adamu as reassuring the general public that the police and other security agencies were doing everything within their power to tame the challenges of kidnapping and other heinous crimes across the country.
He urged members of the public to always avail the police with useful information that would help in tackling insecurity and other forms of organised crimes.
