*Victim escapes in ensuing confusion
Emma Amaize
18 December 2011, Sweetcrude, WARRI- THERE was confusion in a kidnappers’ stronghold at Issele Nkpitime, Delta State, last weekend, when a “captive”, Nnamdi Celestine Ozomo, escaped from the den following a heated disagreement among the greedy members over the sharing of ransom.
Ozomo was seized by the kidnap/robbery gang at Ishiekpe, Issele-Uku, Delta State, early this month and since his providential escape, he has been thanking God ceaselessly for setting confusion in the camp of the kidnappers.
It was learnt that the kidnappers who shouted on top of their voices and threatened to harm themselves were so immersed in their brickbat that they did not know when the victim escaped.
Delta State Police Commissioner, Mr. Mamman Tsafe who confirmed the escape of the victim told Vanguard that through intelligence network, the Anti-Kidnapping Squad in Asaba has arrested a member of the gang, identified as Christian.
He said the police recovered three Audi 80 cars with registration numbers, LN, 885 KDA, AW 253 RBC and AL 235 SLK that were being used by the kidnap victims, two generating sets and three motor-cycles with registration numbers, QEQ 285 KWE, QE 215 KWE and QN 910 RLU.
The gangsters reportedly kidnapped Christian from his house after robbing him and other occupants of various sums of money and handsets and took him to their camp at Issele Nkpitime.
In the words of the commissioner, “However, while the suspects were sharing the robbed money, disagreement ensued among them, giving the victim the leeway to escape through the bush to Obomkpa village, where he was rescued by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Issele-Uku”.
He said that the suspect had confessed other members of the gang and the police were on their trail.
Investigation by Vanguard, however, showed the suspect was part of the same gang that took one Mrs. Igho Yarbieri and her four children hostage on their way to the church, last month, along Jesus Saves Road, Asaba, in a Toyota Camry car.
The gang collected N7 million from the family of the victims until the police got information that one of them bought a piece of land at Okpanam with his share of the rasnsom and swung into action, arresting him and five others.
