A notorious kidnap kingpin, Odinaka Uja, who was arrested in Enugu State, has revealed that a police officer and an ex-government official in the state were the brain behind his successful kidnap business, as they sponsored him.
His arrest came after the abduction of a 75-year-old man, Pa Fidelis Ojobo, at Umuogbo Ulo in Igboeze North Local Government Area of the state.
Uja, who confessed to abducting Ojobo, said he and his accomplices had demanded N50 million as ransom and were on the verge of getting paid when the police apprehended some of them.
The suspect, in his confession, said he and his syndicate were the brain behind the unrest in the community, Vanguard gathered.
Uja, who hails from Igogoro, recalled how he and his gang kidnapped and murdered Adiza Ogbo, the 85-year-old mother of the former Commissioner for Chieftaincy Matters in Enugu State, Chief Goddy Ogbo, on September 15, 2013.
During the interrogation, he revealed two sponsors including a policeman serving with the Anti- Robbery Squad, SARS, in the state and another former protocol officer at the Governor’s Office, Enugu.
Uja said, “The former Commissioner’s mother was killed and buried in a shallow grave at Obollo Afor in Udenu Local Government Area of the state by us.
“Her corpse was later recovered by the police after the arrest of the gang members, but I escaped.
“The roles of my sponsors involved protection and support with logistics.
“While the former protocol officer provided me support, serving as a go-between with the law enforcement agents, the SARS official provided me with the necessary logistics, frustrating the efforts of security agencies and destroying evidence which could have led to my successful arrest and prosecution.
“I have been doing big things but I did not participate in the abduction of Pa Ojobo. I only got involved in this case after he had been kidnapped. It was when things became difficult that I was invited. I did not participate in the kidnap myself.
“I know that I may not survive in this case because of the gunshot wounds I sustained in the process of my arrest. That is why I am telling you the truth. I swear that everything I am telling you is true,” Uja added.
The traditional ruler of Amaja, Igwe Ignatius Idoko, speaking on the incident, said,”We have been appealing to the relevant authorities to establish a police station between us and the people of Benue and Kogi states who are our neighbours without success.
“Now that they have succeeded in arresting their kingpin, I hope they will do the needful and give us adequate security.”
Meanwhile, DAILY POST contacted the state police spokesperson, whose number was not available as at press time, but reports say the alleged sponsors, still unnamed, are yet to be arrested.
It was learnt that the suspect had been on the wanted list of the police for three years and his arrest was carried out by a joint patrol team made up of the police and Neighbourhood Watch in the state.
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