Police arrest three soldiers for kidnapping, armed robbery

Three soldiers and a civilian have been arrested by men of the Edo State Police Command for alleged kidnapping and armed robbery.

According to The Nation’s report on Sunday, the three soldiers were said to have been on the police wanted list for series of kidnappings at Agenebode, Fugar and other areas of Edo State.

They were identified as Corporal Collins Ameh 13NA/70/4960 of 3 Division, Jos; Lance Corporal Balogun Taiwo 13/NA/69/0369 of 35 Battalion, Katsina; and Private Evans Isibor 15/NA/73/1529 of the Artillery Brigade, Owerri who was on a special duty in Maiduguri, Borno state.

Name of the civilian suspect was given as Goodluck Igbenebor.

Corporals Ameh and Balogun were arrested after they kidnapped one Mr Joseph Otono in October at Fugar, Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State and snatched his Toyota Voltron car.

Their victim was released after a ransom was paid by his relation.

Luck ran out of the soldiers when they were arrested at Ehor, headquarters of Uhunmwode local government area of Edo State while on their way to Lagos State to sell the car.

They were discovered to have also kidnapped a classroom teacher in Fugar, Mrs Catherine Izuagie on the 9th of September, 2019 and released her after ransom was paid.

Private Evans Isibor who was posted to Maiduguri, capital of Bornu State to combat insurgency, was said to have joined others to kidnap one Mohammed Hassan in Agenebode, Etsako East local government area of Edo state on the October 14, 2019.

Edo Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Chidi Nwabuzor said the three soldiers and civilian were currently being interrogated.

Nwabuzor said, “Yes I can confirm to you that three soldiers and a civilian have benn arrested by the state command for kidnapping and armed robbery. They are currently being quizzed by the head of SARS, SP Richard Balogun.”