Police Operatives associated with the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) have arrested a pastor and 34 suspects across the nation for involving and participating in series of kidnapping, armed robbery, and other wicked crimes.

This was made known via a press release issued on Wednesday, July 29th, 2020, by the Police Force Spokesperson, DCP Frank Mba.

The arrest of the criminals comes after the Police force made unrelenting and tireless efforts to rid the country of evil criminals and ensure they are brought to justice.

The Police spokesperson said the arrested criminals include a criminally minded pastor, Adetokumbo Adenopo ‘m’ 52years, Founder and General Overseer of New Life Ministry, Lukosi, in Sagamu Area of Ogun State.

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Three members of his criminal group were also arrested. They include; Chigozie Williams 22years, native of Umuahia North, Abia State, Ugoji Linus 30years, native of Ezinifite in Imo State and Emmanuel Chris Ani, 27years, native of Aniri in Enugu State.

The trio, with their leader, Pastor Adetokumbo, are all responsible for the kidnap for ransom of  a certain Jonathan Ekpo; a 35-year old man who hails from Benue State.

Ekpo, an employee of a logistic company was kidnapped on 17th July, 2020 while on official duty to deliver goods in Sagamu, Ogun State.

Mba said the victim was kept in an underground cabin inside the Pastor’s church building in Ogijo town, Ogun State by his abductors who demanded the payment of twenty million naira ransom as condition for his release.

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He was subsequently rescued unhurt nine days after and reunited with his family by the Police.

Pastor Adetokumbo told the Police operatives that he embarked on the crime for the expansion of his church and charity works. 

The Police recovered 4 Ak47 Rifles, 5 other Assault Guns, 378 Rounds of Ammunition, 18 Vehicles and 1 Anti-Tracker Device amongst others

Also, the Police also arrested a certain Bright Udogiri and three others. 

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Bright, 30, also known as ability is a 30-year-old man who hails from Osuachara Village, Isiala Mbano LGA of Imo State.

The other three suspects arrested include; Ekwuru Shadrack also known as Escobar,  26years native of Arondizuogu village in Okigwe LGA of Imo state, Chimerie Igwe also known as 4real, 30years old, native of Umucheke Village in Orlu LGA of Imo State, and Chibuike Sunday, 28years old from Arondizuogu of Imo State. 

They were arrested on the 5th of July, 2020 for the abduction and killing of a Nigerian US Soldier, Chuks Okebata who came into Nigeria for holidays in his hometown, Okigwe, Imo State in 2017.

The suspects who are one of the foremost kidnapping groups terrorizing the South Eastern part of the country were arrested two and half years after, following intensive manhunt by the Police team.

Similarly, the Police team also arrested a 9-man trans-boundary armed robbery and car snatching syndicate led by a certain Yakubu Hayatu, 30years from Borno State.

Members of his nine-man syndicate include; Members of the gang include; Adamu Awalu, 28years from Kano State, Abdulrahman Yakubu, 23years from Zaria, Yususf Adamu, 22years from Zaria, Kamal Japhet, 22years from Katsina, Abubakar Samaila, 20years from Zaria, Muhammadu Abdulahi, 20years from Zaria, Yahaya Mohammed, 18years from Kaduna State, Ibrahim Abubakar, 21years from Kwara. 

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The Police Spokesperson said investigations reveal that the syndicate has snatched over thirty exotic cars at gunpoint and killed two Policemen.      

They use anti-tracker devices to evade arrest and deliver the vehicles to one Alhaji Garba in Maradi, Niger Republic.

Eighteen vehicles have so far been recovered by the Police team. The team is working with the INTERPOL to apprehend Alhaji Garba and to recover the remaining vehicles.     

The Police recovered 4 Ak47 Rifles, 1 FMC rifle, 1 Pump Action Gun, 2 double barrel guns, 1 Beretta pistol, 4 AK47 Magazine, 6 cartridges, 378 Rounds of live Ammunition, 1 Network Jammer (anti-tracker device), from the nine-man syndicate.

While noting that the suspects will be charged to court on conclusion of investigations, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni assures that the battle against criminal elements in the country is a continuous one.

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