By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Last Sunday, the family of a resident of Ughelli, Delta state, simply identified as Mrs Stellar, revelled in thanksgiving and merry over her miraculous escape from the den of a deadly kidnap gang led by a cripple, Edafe Richmond Akporere aka Ogbolo, now in police net with two accomplices, Igho Midiyoraye and one Precious.

Two other female abductees who weren’t as lucky, got killed by the merciless Ogbolo gang for delayed ransom delivery by their relatives, their corpses deposited in a morgue

The chilling ordeal narrated by Stella overwhelms the passing comments shared by the state’s Police Command’s Spokesman, Superintendent of Police (SP) Edafe Bright.

In the report on the Ughelli scenario among recent anti-kidnap operations, Edafe had stated, “Sequel to a case of kidnapping reported at the ‘A’ Division, Ughelli by the husband of a kidnapped victim (name withheld) abducted along Isoko Road by unknown hoodlums demanding Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira ransom, the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Sadiq immediately detailed ASP Julius Robinson to lead his team of operatives on special assignment.

“On 22/4/2024 at about 1430hrs, combined teams of police operatives and members of the vigilantes, armed with generated intelligence stormed Eruemukohwarian Community in Ughellli North LGA of Delta State suspected to be the hoodlums’ hideout.

“On sighting the teams, the hoodlums took to their heels, abandoning the victim who was rescued unhurt. Two of the suspects: Edadfe Akporere ‘m’ 27 years of Eruemukohwarien and Igho Midiraya ‘m’ 34 years of Uvwiamuge in Agharho, both in Ughellli North LGA of Delta were arrested after a hot chase. The suspects have been identified by the victim. Efforts have been intensified to arrest other fleeing gangs.

What I Went Through -Escapee

Narrating her ordeal, Mrs Stella remains at lost as to how she dared to escaped a horrible life and death situation.

She narrated, “It was about 7-8am. I boarded a keke by First bank at Isoko Road, to stop at Market Road. Getting to my destination, a man brought out a gun and asked me to sit down and if I dare to shout, he will shoot me.

“On sighting the gun, I urinated on my body immediately. So they took me along. On our way, the man with the gun zipped close the keke. At the Ughelli Market Bridge, two other young men entered.

“I was immediately blind folded and taken to unknown destination. Even on the blindfold, I sensed from the conversation when we got to a police check point. There, one of my abductors said, officer, ‘na your boy o’. The response from the police was ‘Chairman, go, you no get wahala o.

“At the removal of the blindfold, I sensed they had moved be to their den. This was when I knew the man who pointed the gun at me was a cripple. His boys were hailing and calling him chairman.

“I met two young ladies and a woman tied when they brought me in. The chairman took my ATM card and they withdrew N92,000 from my account before ordering me to call my people or he will kill me.

“I have no option than to call a friend who instantly sent N100,000 to my account. They called a woman who came with three Point of Sales (POS) machines to withdraw the money.

In my presence, the two girls were stabbed dead. The chairman told me that the parents of one of the girls putting on red T-shirt had paid N1.5Million ransom, warning if I did not call my people to bring more money, I will be killed just like the girl.

“I begged them not to kill me and that they should allow me call my people. One of the boys subscribed to my phone to contact my husband which I did.

“Their chairman showed me my picture on his phone as number 6 to be kidnapped and be killed and I when I asked him how he got my picture, he told me it was sent to him.

“My escape from their den was just a miracle, because I did not know what transpired. I remember all of a sudden, I was hearing gun shots roaring.

“On hearing the sound of gunshots from different directions, I had no option than to run for my life. I ran to a point I saw somebody like a farmer in the bush and that was how I found myself at home.

“On getting to the house, I was told that the cripple and one other person were arrested by the police, that I should come and identify them.

“On seeing me at the Police Station, the cripple (chairman) and the Keke rider (Igho) bowed down their heads, accusing me of setting them up. The phone of the cripple was searched by the police who found many pictures of those marked for killing or kidnapping stored.

“At the Ughelli Police Station, two flashy cars came in respect of the cripple with intention of securing his release, but the police refused, insisting he must be brought before the Commissioner of Police in Asaba.

“They took us all to Asaba on Wednesday and they confessed to the crime before the Oga Kpatakpata of police.”

It could not be ascertained if the ‘Oga’ Stella referred was the Delta State Police Commissioner, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi.

A senior security source who spoke on the incident confirmed, ” corpses of the two ladies killed by the gang have been deposited at the morgue while we wait for their relatives for identification.

“Four other persons were arrested and cache of arms and ammunition recovered in the process. We are on the trail of the PoS person. One of the suspects, an Okada rider who identified self as Precious, was released from prison only last December

The cripple, Edafe Richmond Akporere, 28, popularly known as ‘Ogbolo’ has been on the wanted list before now and he is currently at Asaba for further investigation.”

In further recent successes recorded by Police, Edafe, Command’s Spokesman captured that, “On 17/4/2024 at about 2330hrs, working on credible intelligence received about a syndicate of armed robbers terrorizing Ughelli and environs, ASP Julius Robinson led team, in a sting operation, stormed Sapele Town and arrested the leader of one suspected syndicate known as Ibrahim Usman, a 35yrs male indigene of Abaji Town, Kogi State.

“At about 0530hrs of 18/4/2024, the suspect led the operatives to Itsekiri Road area of Sapele where two of his gang members, Joseph Aondohbmba, 22yrs of Gbeji Community in Logo LGA, Benue State and Collins Ovo (alias “Gbegbes”), a 23 yrs male suspect from Adeje, in Okpe LGA, Delta State.

“The gang leader, Ibrahim Usman took the team to his residence at Itsekiri Road, before Macpherson Area of Sapele where a Barretta Pistol hidden under his mattress was recovered. Investigation is ongoing.

“On 24/4/2024, the team led by ASP Julius Robinson again stormed Ogorode Area of Sapele Town, 0730hrs and arrested one Daniel Okete m” 32 years, a native of Jesse in Ethiope-West LGA, but resides in Sapele, Delta State.

“Upon search, a Barretta Pistol was recovered in his residence which he confessed he bought from one Goodluck Sokutu ‘m’ also in custody. He confessed to being third in command of Eiye Confraternity in Sapele.

“Also, on 25/4/2024 at about 1000hrs, while acting on the confessions from a gun runner already in custody viz Goodluck Sakuta ‘m’, operatives recovered a Barretta Pistol at an uncompleted building in Amukpe area of Sapele where it was hidden. Investigation ongoing.”