Italian Kidnap Kingpin Busted In Delta

Fernando Blessing

An Italian national suspected to be a leader of a notorious Kidnap ring in Delta State has been apprehended, BigPen Online can report.

The suspect simply identified as Fernando Blessing, ring leader of a syndicate group reportedly terrorizing residents of Ozoro, headquarters of Isoko North council Area was paraded on Thursday at the State Police Headquarters, Asaba.

Also paraded alongside the foreigner were leaders of another deadly kidnap syndicate arrested around Warri area, the commercial nerve Centre of the state.

State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Zanna Ibrahim, explained that Fernando was arrested when he came to collect ransom of additional sum of N50,000 from a kidnap victim’s relatives having earlier collected the sum of N250,000.

Other suspects, Lucky Unumeri and Charles Ighumaye, paraded were allegedly responsible for the attacked and murdered of the Area Commander, Ughelli, ACP Ndababa Usman, and the late DSP German Emmanuel.

“Suspects belonging to a deadly kidnapping syndicate headed by one Lucky Unumeri, aka “Fesbo” and one Charles Ighumaye, aka “Awilo”, responsible for most kidnaps within Warri/Ughelli/Agbarho/Eku/Sapele axis and its environ, including the attack and murder of Area Commander Ughelli ACP Ndababa Usman and late Dsp German Emmanuel, were arrested, the CP said.

He said that efforts are on to arrest other fleeing gang members, saying that their case would be charged to court soon.

Meanwhile, six suspected kidnappers responsible for several kidnapping incidents in Oleh, Isoko South Local Council and neighbouring communities of Delta State, had met their waterloo as detectives trailed them to their hideout where the six were killed.

Police source disclosed that the hoodlums met their waterloo after they abducted their last victim in his residence around Evoja primary school, Oleh, as he was about entering his car.

“The police swung into action after the victim’s wife reported the incident, including the $1 million ransom being demanded by the kidnappers.

“Luck ran out on the suspects as one of them was caught in his bid to pick up the ‘arranged’ ransom from the victim’s wife.

“Thereafter, the other five members of the gang were tracked down to their hideout”, the source added.

But State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Aniamaka, who confirmed the incident, however disclosed that the six suspects were killed in a gun duel after the police who were on operation to rescue a victim ran into the kidnappers’ hideout in an uncompleted building in a bush in Emede community.