Sunday, August 23, 2026

Delta police arrest two for helping suspected kidnappers receive N21 million ransom

The police have arrested two suspects for helping suspected kidnappers receive N21 million ransom, meant for the release of a victim kidnapped in Asaba.

• October 29, 2025
Police officers
Police officers used to illustrate the story [Photo credit: THISDAYLIVE]

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested two suspects for helping suspected kidnappers receive a N21 million ransom, meant for the release of a victim kidnapped in Asaba on October 3, 2025.

The command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, in a video on X on Tuesday, stated that N4.5 million out of the N21 million ransom received was recovered from the suspects, who were traced to Ilhiala, Anambra State, where they were subsequently arrested.

Mr Edafe said, “The man was kidnapped on the 3rd of October, 2025, at Oduke, in Asaba, but you will not believe that the suspect came all the way from Ihiala, in Anambra State. Having committed this crime, they’ll go back to that place to hibernate.”

Speaking during interrogation at the command’s special anti-kidnapping and cybercrime squad office in Asaba, the 60-year-old suspect, Cyprian Njanefo, stated that N21 million was deposited into his account but denied knowing it was ransom for kidnappers.

The suspect explained, “This my friend, there was a day I was in a meeting with my brothers, he came to me and said that he needs my account number for someone to transfer his money there for him to withdraw.”
The second suspect, 49-year-old Sunday Uwen, in his confession, said he was only given N700,000 out of the N7 million ransom they received from the first operation, but was not given any cut from the latest operation that led to his arrest.

Mr Edafe, who assured that efforts are being intensified to ensure the arrest of other members of the kidnapping gang, urged members of the public to trust the police.

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