3 Kidnapped Victims Regain Freedom In Delta After N.7m Ransom Payment

Four persons who were reportedly kidnapped last week at Okurekpo village in Okpara Inland in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, have regained their freedom, BIGPEN ONLINE has learnt.

The victims namely, Blessing Ogujove, Ejiro Solomon and Akpos Thomas were freed on Monday, 15 April  2019 about 9:pm after members of their families paid a ransom of N700, 000 (Seven Hundred Thousand naira).

It was gathered that the only girl among them simply identified as Edijana Okro had earlier escaped from the abductors den two days after they were taken hostage.

The kidnap victims were drop off by the kidnappers at unknown location from where they found their way to Ovu before help came their way.

BIGPEN ONLINE had reported that the victims were seized by gun wielding men when the vehicle they were traveling with broke down along the community road.

It was gathered that the victims were on their way to Okpara-waterside when their car had a flat tire along the Okurekpo junction between 1000 to 11:30 hours.

“The abductees were coming from Okpara inland heading toward Okpara-waterside when the gunmen waylaid them at Okurekpo junction. They stopped at the junction to change a flat tire of the Jetta car they were traveling with.

“The jetty car with registration number No.UGH241EY was left in the scene. It was widely opened with tire, wheel spnanner left in the scene. It appears the attackers swooped on them”, a local source said.

It was learnt that the vehicle, a green color jetta and all items seen at the scene have been taken to the Isiokolo police division as the police in the area alongside vigilante group have intensified manhunt for the kidnappers.

Sources said the the vigilante from neighbouring communities of Okpara-Inland,  Okpara-Waterside, Kokori and Okurekpo are helping the police in combing the surrounding bushes for the victims and kidnappers.

When contacted, State Commissioner for police, CP Adeyinka Adeleke said he was yet to be briefed by the divisional police officer from the area and promised to revert back but he never did as at press time.