The Nigerian Police in Delta State announced on Wednesday that they have arrested four individuals suspected of helping kidnappers collect ransom payments.
Police Public Relations Officer SP Bright Edafe named the suspects as Chimerije Joshua Nwakpa, Eze Levy Onyekachi, Ezemma Maxwell Nnadozie, and Emmanuel Otubo. According to Edafe, these suspects allowed their bank accounts to be used for receiving ransom payments, taking a cut of 15 to 40 percent before passing the rest to the kidnappers.
Edafe explained that the suspects coordinated closely with the kidnappers, providing account numbers for the ransom transactions. “They’re in constant communication with the kidnappers,” Edafe stated. “Once the kidnappers get the ransom, they reach out to one of the suspects, who then arranges for a friend to provide an account number to receive the payment
During interrogation, Nwakpa confessed to receiving ransom payments totalling N7.9 million (about $4,984), with his share ranging from 15 to 40 percent. He claimed he used the money to develop a cryptocurrency website for online scams.
Nnadozie, another suspect, admitted to having a personal connection with one of the kidnappers, as they grew up together. He confessed to withdrawing the ransom money from an ATM and handing it over to the kidnappers. The police are still investigating to nab the kidnapping gang.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
