Britons Kidnap: Delta Police Parades Suspects.

…Places N2 Million Bounty On Karo-owei.

By Miacle Enuji

Five suspects linked to the abduction of four Britons at Enakorogha in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State have been arrested and paraded by the State Police Command.

CP Zannah Ibrahim informed the Press that three of the kidnapped British nationals namely, Mr. David Donavan 57yrs, Mrs. Shirley Donavan 57yrs and Mr. Alanna Carson were successfully rescued while Mr. Ian Squire was killed by the abductors.

He stated that the British citizens on October 13, 2017, at Enakorogha in Burutu were abducted by a gang of armed militants/kidnappers led by one Karo-owei.  

Acting on available intelligence, Operatives of the Command effected the arrest of the first four suspects who have various degrees of complicity in the case.

According to the Police boss, Ekpenunena Courtmember  led the gang to the victims’ residence and also provided fuel for the engine boat used for the operation while Wirly Huludu  was aware of the gang’s activities but concealed the fact. On the fateful day, he put a call to one Bokeyo, who is suspected to be the second-in-command to the gang leader, who in turn warned him (Wirly Huludu) not to ask him about the expatriates.

CP Ibrahim further stated that Godswill Hana was indicted by Ekpenunena Courtmember, but investigation is ongoing to ascertain his level of involvement whereas James Tennes aided and abetted the gang members by providing drinks for them, and also knows about their movements and serves as their informant thereby making their arrest difficult. Ebimene Arerebo acted as informant to the kidnap gang.

Meanwhile, the alleged leader of the gang, Karo-owei Pere Gbakumor of Enekorogha community, Burutu LGA, Delta State, has been declared wanted by the police with a sum of two million naira (N2M) set side for any person who could come up with information that would lead to his arrest.

The CP who further gave details on the death of an operative involved in the arrest of the suspected kidnappers said, “the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) Operatives deployed to Delta State in pursuit of the kidnappers who kidnapped four (4) British citizens in Burutu successfully arrested two of the suspects. The duo confessed and volunteered to lead the IRT Operatives to arrest their remaining gang members in Sapele, Delta State. On sighting one of the kidnappers, the IRT Operatives advanced to arrest him but unfortunately, the armed suspect suddenly brought out a berretta pistol and shot at F/No. 359454 Sgt. Sanusi Lanre in the stomach and F/No.360140 Sgt. Agunbiade Adebayo on his two hands. Other IRT members around immediately replied and gunned down the kidnapper, recovered the pistol and conveyed him and the wounded operatives to the hospital. However, on 8/11/17, at 1100hrs, the injured Sgt. Sanusi Lanre, who had been on intensive care unit of DELSUTH since the shooting, died.”