Six suspects in connection with the kidnap of Nitabai Inengite, uncle of President Goodluck Jonathan, at Otuoke in Beyelsa State on Feb. 23, have been arrested by the Department of State Service.
Briefing newsmen on the development on Thursday, Marilyn Ogar, spokeswoman for the service, said they included an undergraduate, a graduate, a native doctor and three others.
Ogar said after Inengite was kidnapped, he was taken to two different locations in Bayelsa creeks, very close to the Atlantic Ocean, adding that Inengite was held in captivity for 17 days before being released “without payment of ransom”.
Ogar explained that the 30-year-old undergraduate suspect, a 400-level student of the University of Jos, was the leader of the kidnap gang, revealing that the suspect masterminded the kidnap with a take-off grant of N40,000 for the procurement of arms and other logistics.
Ogar said the suspect, who is a herbalist, confessed that one other member of the gang and three unknown persons visited him for purpose of preparing medicine for their fortification and success in their plan to kidnap “a rich man, who resides in Bayelsa”.
“That he (herbalist) played along with them to save himself and family,” she said, adding that the suspect confessed that they reached an agreement that 10 per cent of the ransom would be given to him.
The DSS spokeswoman restated the need for the public to be vigilant and be alert, saying that issues of security should not be left to security agencies alone.
“The peace, unity and security of our dear country should be our collective responsibility. I wish to restate that the long arm of the law will always catch up with perpetrators of crime in Nigeria, no matter how long it takes.”
The mastermind of the kidnap admitted before newsmen that he provided the money to acquire logistics for the operation, but said that he was contracted by a suspect, who is now at large, to carry out surveillance on their victim with promise that after the deal he would be rewarded.
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