6 Months After, Police Nab Mastermind, Killers of Obi of Ubulu-Uku, Delta State.

6 Months After, Police Nab Mastermind, Killers of Obi of Ubulu-Uku, Delta State.

Six (6) months after the horrible abduction and murder of the Paramount ruler of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom in Aniocha local Government area of Delta State, HRM Akaeze Edward Ofulue III, the Police from Force headquarters in coordinated operation with Delta Police Command have arrested the mastermind and other kidnap gang.

Umar Mohammed (aka small), the mastermind of the abduction, a Fulani, was arrested in Abraka while Lamil Garuba, another member was arrested at Sokoto after evading arrest severally.

Other members of his kignap gangs include Evidence Okoro, (Driver), Vincent Obukowho, Johnson Mkpere, Oghenerouna Umukoro, Awulu Godwin, Odogwu Frank and Lamil Garuba.

Briefing newsmen on the arrest, Police Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Donald Awunah said, “In a nationwide coordinated operation based on citizen’s support and deployment of IGP technical platforms and the Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Delta State, 9 kidnap for ransom suspects whose nefarious activities have been a source of concern to the Police high command have been arrested.

“With the arrest of these suspects, Delta state and other neighbouring States will have considerable sense of relief and security. Exhibits recovered from them include, A victims Hyudai Car, one fabricated G3 rifle, one cut to size double barrel gun, one cut to size single barrel gun, one Dane gun, rope used to tie victims, black and white piece of cloth used to cover the mouth and face of victims and 3 live cartridges.   

DCP Awunah said, “At about 1430 hours, on the 19^th of July 2016, a vicious and notorious suspected kidnapper, Umar Mohammed aka ‘Small’ was arrested at Abraka Market area of Asaba, delta state by a team of Special Anti-Kidnapping operatives.

“The suspect was one of the wanted kidnappers responsible for the kidnap and murder of the Obi of Ubulu-uku, Edward Akaeze Ofulue III of Ubulu-uku kingdom of 5^th January 2016 along Obior/Igbodo link road in Delta state.

“One of the victims that escaped from the kidnappers identified Umar Mohammed aka ‘small’ as one of the kidnappers that robbed and kidnapped them along with the late Royal highness on the 5^th January, 2016.

“The suspect has confessed to be a member of the kidnapping gang that kidnapped and killed the Monarch”.

Vincent Obukowho was arrested at Badagry, Johnson Mkpere, Oghenerouna Umukoro, Blessing Akperere and Evidence Okoro were arrested at Ughelli, Awalu Godwin,  and Odogwu Frank were arrested at Illah town.

Recall that the decomposing remains of the late Obi Ofulue III was discovered by vigilante group members at the stomp of a tree in the bush at Umunede, Ika North East local government area, the boundary between Delta and Edo States, 15 days after the incident.

Obi Ofulue III, a lawyer, businessman and an ardent Christian of the Deeper Life Bible ministry was said to be driving with a young pastor of the church, who also served as one of his aides in his Land Cruiser Jeep, along Obior/Igbodo Road when the abductors struck at a bad spot.

 The bad spot, about 40 kilometers from his country home, was said to be a flash-point in where many persons, including two Catholic Priests were kidnapped at the spot by kidnap gang. At the bad spot, the kidnappers, who laid ambush, came out shooting sporadically and after abducting him, they led him into the bush immediately leaving his SUV on the roadside.

The kidnappers established contact with the palace after about three days, made a demand of N100 million ransom, but later settled for N30 million after much negotiation. They reportedly requested to speak with one of the monarch’s brothers, Nzekwue Don Ofulue, and warned him never to inform the police about the matter.

END.