The chairman of Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Mr Emmanuel Ajah, has disclosed details of the arrest of the kidnapper who killed Emmanuel Igwe, a staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and abducted his wife.
According to the LG boss, the alleged kingpin, whose name was not disclosed, was tracked and arrested through the combined efforts of the Nigeria Police, local vigilantes, and other security agencies.
Speaking to newsmen in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State, Ajah revealed that the suspect had in the past perpetrated several evils against people within the states and its environs, adding that his arrest is a major victory against insecurity.
According to him, “Last time, we recorded success by arresting the second in command of that team, called Gonner, in Abia State. And we continued looking for the kingpin. Today, we have succeeded in arresting the Alhaji himself. He is now cooling his heels at the police station.
“We spent a lot of money looking for them because they didn’t stay in one place and they changed phone numbers. We have looked for them in Lagos, Kaduna, Delta and other places. But yesterday night, we recorded success by apprehending the kingpin.”
He said further, “Alhaji is the one who collected the ransom for the release of the kidnap victim from the police and entered the bush. He is now at the police station. He never denied it. I’m just coming out of the police station, and he didn’t deny collecting the ransom.”
Ajah also disclosed the arrest of another two suspected kidnappers and the rescue of three victims abducted recently in the council area. This development, he said, was the result of the joint efforts of the Nigerian Army, Police, and members of the local security outfit in Ivo LGA.