Hotelier Aids Escape Of 2 Suspects As Police Arrest Abductor Of Benin-based Pastor

The Police Command in Delta State has stated how the owner of Freedom View Hotel (name undisclosed), Oghareki in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, allegedly aided the escape of two out of three suspects who kidnapped a Benin-based pastor.

State Police Command Public Relation Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, who disclosed this in a statement, said that the police division in Oghara had trailed the suspects to the hotel where they were hiding but two escaped with the aid of the hotelier.

Giving a graphic details of the incident, Edafe said that on January 10, at about 1030hrs, the DPO Oghara Division, CSP Jimoh Hassan had received an information from the DPO new Etete Division in Benin City, that on January 9, a Pastor was kidnapped along with his Lexus 330 SUV with Reg no KWL 510 BH black in colour.

Edafe said that after a painstaking technical intelligence, investigation revealed that the vehicle was parked along Ibori Road in Oghara.

The DPO Oghara Division, he said detailed and led operatives to the area where the said vehicle was sighted.

Upon sighting the Vehicle, the Operatives laid ambush and waited for the suspects to show up, DSP Edafe said.

Three men later appeared to pick the vehicle and the Operatives rounded them up, but two of the suspects escaped while one of them named Osagie Felix (male) age 36yrs of H & H Ologbo in Edo State was arrested.

Upon interrogation, suspect confessed to being a member of the kidnapping syndicate that kidnapped the Benin based Pastor.

He led the Operatives to Freedom View hotel in Oghareki where they were hibernating.

Continuing, DSP Edafe added; “Upon arrival at the hotel, the owner of the hotel aided the escape of the other two suspects and ran away.

“The suspect Osagie Felix led operatives to his room in the Hotel and upon search, one cut to size double barrel pistol, six live cartridges and the sum of four hundred and ten thousand naira (#410,000) which was part of the Five hundred thousand naira (#500,000) ransom were recovered.

“Suspect also led the operatives to another room where another double barrel pistol, ten live cartridges and a laptop were also recovered”, DSP Edafe said.

The Victim’s vehicle was also recovered to the station.

He said that the police have launched a serious manhunt for the fleeing suspects.