Operatives of the Anti-Kidnaping Squad of the Bayelsa State Police Command confirmed on Wednesday the arrest of three suspects in connection with the abduction of a 40-year-old businesswoman along the Opolo axis of Yenagoa, the state capital.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday night, sent shock waves across the state following the peaceful atmosphere of the Yuletide.
OsunDailyNG learnt that the kidnappers, who arrived at the business outlet of their victim in a patrol vehicle of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Central Zone, whisked her away to an unknown destination.
While police authorities claimed the kidnappers had not made contact and demanded ransom, OsunDailyNG learnt from reliable sources that they had demanded N10 million.
However, IYC executives said they have activated the clan security networks to work with the state police command to arrest the mastermind of the abduction and ensure the businesswoman was rescued without payment of ransom.
Commissioner of Police Alonyenu Idu, who confirmed the development to newsmen, said four suspects have been arrested, including the wife of the mastermind of the kidnapping, after police launched investigations into the incident.
He also revealed that some of the suspected criminals who perpetuated the abduction of the businesswoman were last week chased from their hideout in the Isoku area of River State by police operatives.
According to him, the miscreants who escaped from the Rivers State Police raid used a Sienna vehicle owned by IYC Central Zone to sneak into Yenagoa and kidnap the businesswoman.
He noted that the mastermind of the kidnapping was an indigene of Ebonyi State.
“We have arrested the first layer of those who participated in the kidnap. The girlfriend of the mastermind was also arrested,” he stated.
He also linked the disorderly behaviour of some protesting youths in Biogbolo community on Wednesday to the criminal behaviour of the kidnappers.
“Two persons with strange behaviours were spotted at Biogbolo and when police attempted to apprehend them for questioning, the suspects raised their voices and triggered mob action in an attempt to disarm the policemen,” he explained.
The police commissioner said the irate crowd also attacked a team from the state-owned Community Safety Corps and attempted to disarm an officer, leading to an accidental discharge of a bullet that injured one of the mob.
Idu confirmed that the leadership of the IYC and other communities have joined the police in the manhunt for the mastermind.
“The peace in Bayelsa can not be disrupted because we are working closely with the youth and the community leadership,” he said.
