Two employees arrested over alleged plan to kidnap their supervisors for ransom in Edo

The Edo State Police Command’s anti-kidnapping and cybercrime section has detained two employees of a cement firm in Okpilla, Etsako East Local Government Area of the state, for allegedly planning to abduct their supervisors. The suspects, Obi Bright and Favour Edi, were apprehended in Okpilla while attempting to hire gunmen for a kidnapping plot. Before their arrests, the suspects, both unskilled cement industry employees, had finalized plans to kidnap two of the company’s managers, Mr Dimgba Uche and Mr Ekwueme Chukwuka.

Bright visited Edi for recruitment and asked for his help in contacting gunmen in Kogi state, according to a police investigation.

They then contacted an unnamed man who was to connect them to the kidnappers. However, trouble started as the generosity of their victims bothered the middleman who then reported the abduction plan to the soldiers guarding the company, who in turn contacted the police.

Detectives advised the whistleblower to play along to ensure that the masterminds didn’t escape. The spspects were arrested after the soldiers gathered enough evidence of the abduction.

Other gang members were subsequently arrested by the soldiers and handed over to the Edo State police command. Speaking to crime corrspondent, Festus Alenkhe, one of the suspects said he decided to kidnap his bosses because his monthly salary is low.

“My monthly salary is very low, and I need money to handle some issues. I know that my boss always has money, and l wanted the people l was calling to kidnap him so that they can give me my share after the kidnapping operation.” he said.

Spokesperson of the Edo State Police Command, SP Bello Kontongs, who confirmed the arrest warned criminals to relocate from Edo state as the police are now battle-ready to extinguish them from the state..He added that the two suspects will be arraigned in court soon.