The police in Ebonyi State have arrested 11 suspects including a kidnapper operating in Ebonyi and Abia states, Ogonna Alioka.
File Police
A notorious kidnapper operating in Ebonyi and Abia states identified as Ogonna Alioka, popularly known as Pilot, who was allegedly among the gang of kidnappers numbering 11, involved in the abduction and killing of a 60-year old woman, Catherine Okorie, has been arrested.
According to a report by Premium Times, the late Mrs. Okorie, an indigene of Ishiagu community in Ivo local government area of Ebonyi State, was on January 18 abducted in her residence, and was later killed and buried by her assailants in a shallow grave in a forest bordering Lokpanta in Umunneochi and Awgu LGAs of Abia and Enugu states, for allegedly recognising one of the kidnappers.
Speaking while parading the suspects at Police Headquarters Abakaliki, the police spokesperson in the state, Jude Madu, said though some members of the gang had been arrested and arraigned in court, Alioka who allegedly drove the vehicle used in the operation had been on the run until a few days ago when he was arrested in Abia State.
Alioka, in a chat with reporters Alioka confessed to the crimes, and alleged that the woman was killed while fleeing from them in the bush, claiming that he engaged his colleagues in a fight when the incident occurred, adding that the abduction of the woman was masterminded by an unnamed politician in Ishiagu.
The other suspects who included Chukwudi Nwezaku, Otu Okpara, Eze Chima, Chiadikaobi Ani, Uchechukwu Aniewo and Ozomena Obasi, were arrested in connection with armed robbery attacks, electricity cable vandalism, buying of stolen cars and unlawful possession of firearms.