The Ogun State Police command has arrested a family of seven who engage in kidnapping victims for ransom in Sagamu.

The State's police PRO, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, parading the suspects, said five of the syndicate; Oweniwe Okpara and three of his children identified as; Samson Okpara, Bright Okpara and Eze Okpara alongside a certain Christian Ishaha and Emmanuel Joseph were arrested in Sagamu, while three others of his children; Godwin Okpara, Godspower Okpara and Mathew Okpara were arrested in Delta State.

It was gathered that the father, Okpara Oweniwe, is a farmer on the Aiyepe-Ijebu road which is the hotspot for the syndicate's kidnapping activities.

The Police PRO appreciated the cooperation of the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, for supporting security personnel in their efforts at arresting the syndicate.

Oyeyemi said; “In compliance with the CP’s directive, the DPO of Sagamu division CSP Okiki Agunbiade and his crack detectives with the support of Sagamu security council under Akarigbo of Remo land embarked on intelligence and technical based investigation, which led to the arrest of one Oweniwe Okpara from Delta state and three of his children namely; Samson Okpara, Bright Okpara and Eze Okpara as well as one Christian Ishaha who accommodated them.

“They were all arrested in Ajaka area of Sagamu for their roles in the kidnap of 8 persons at different times in Sagamu and other areas.

“In the course of investigation, it was discovered that three other members of the family constituting the criminal gang namely; Godwin Okpara, Godspower Okpara and Mathew Okpara are the armed squad of the syndicate, while Samson, Bright and Eze Okpara were the one spying on their targeted victims.

“One Emmanuel Joseph, a native of Ebele in Edo State was later recruited into the fold, having confronted their sister, Eze Okpara to tell him the source of money they used to count every day. They subsequently opened up to him that they are into kidnapping business and he also joined them.

“Having heard about the arrest of their father and their three siblings, Godwin, Godspower and Mathew Okpara took to flight and ran to Delta state with their operational car and their arms where they were subsequently apprehended by the Delta state police command after carrying out another kidnapping there”.

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“Their camp located at a forest in Ayepe-Ijebu where their father used to farm before converting it to a camp was located by policemen led by the DPO Sagamu and subsequently destroyed. Items recovered at the camp include; three expended cartridges, cooking gas, tarpaulin, cooking utensils, women bags and twine.”

One of the victims of the kidnap syndicate, Okechukwu Onwubiko, who was abducted on June 4, 2020, revealed he spent seven days in the suspects' den and regained his freedom after his family had paid N5 million ransom.

The syndicate also kidnaped a RCCG Pastor identified as Omotayo Sobowale on June 16, 2020. Pastor Sobowale said he had to give the syndicate N1M before he could regain his freedom.

Other victims kidnapped by the syndicate include; Lamidi Akeem, Olufunke Areoye, who was kidnapped on the 3rd of November, 2020, Adijat Adeleye was equally kidnapped on the 11th of November, 2020, Ashaye Olayinka on the 12th of November and Demilade Sonuga.

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