The Delta State Police Command has arrested a commercial motorcyclist, Kelvin Ogaga, for allegedly kidnapping a three-year-old girl entrusted to his care.
It was learnt that the suspect, Ogaga, collected N500,000 as ransom from the child’s family to release the toddler.
The Delta Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed the arrest in a video shared on Thursday.
According to Edafe, the suspect had been hired by the child’s parents to take her to and from school for a monthly fee of N10,000.
He reportedly carried out the assignment for about three weeks before abducting the girl instead of taking her to school.
The suspect, to avoid suspicion, switched off his personal phone but used a different phone number to contact the family and initially demanded a ransom of N2 million.
Despite threats that the child would be killed if the police were informed, the family reported the incident to the authorities.
The ransom demand was later reduced to N500,000, which the family paid before the child was released unharmed.
Following an intelligence-led investigation, police arrested the suspect and recovered part of the ransom money.
While being questioned, Ogaga confessed to the crime, claiming he was persuaded by a friend identified as ‘Omo’ to engage in the crime due to financial hardship.
He also alleged that his girlfriend was aware of the kidnapping plan.
Edafe said efforts were ongoing to arrest other suspects connected to the crime.
The police spokesperson advised parents and guardians to thoroughly verify the backgrounds of people entrusted with the care and transportation of their children.
“The good part is that the child is safe, the suspect has been arrested, and part of the ransom money has been recovered,” Edafe stated.
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