Three members of a
gang that allegedly kidnapped the wife, daughter and driver of a Judge of the
Supreme Court, Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, in May, this year, were among seven
suspects paraded by the State Security Services in Benin City today.
The other suspects
paraded were three extortionists who threatened to kill their victim if he
didn’t pay up and a musician who was paraded for trafficking in persons.
The State Director of the SSS, Mr. Bello Bakori
who paraded the suspects before the Governor and the Press said the suspects
had confessed to the crime and that three members of the kidnappers of the
Judge’s wife are still at large.
He said Mrs.
Rhodes-Vivour and her daughter were kept in a house in Upper Sokpomba, area of
Benin City from where the kidnap suspects were arrested. All the kidnap
suspects were from Delta State while the trafficker in persons is from Edo
State.
The Governor who was
miffed that despite Government’s warning that landlords should screen their
tenants to ensure that their properties are not used by criminals said the
buildings used by the kidnap suspects to hold the Judge’s wife, daughter and
driver will be demolished at the appropriate time.
“For the landlords, we have already made the
decision that anyone that aids and abets kidnapping will have his structure
demolished. Any hotelier who does not follow the instruction of documenting who
stays in the hotel and
such are used for kidnapping or human trafficking we will demolish it. Nobody
has the right to make money out of the pains of Nigerians”, he said.
Oshiomhole expressed
joy that the security agencies were able to arrest the gang that kidnapped the
wife and daughter of the Supreme Court Justice, saying “this is a major
breakthrough. What is important is for criminals to know that there is no more
immunity. It is a matter of when, not whether, they would be caught and that
the officers and men are determined to do their best and those involved in
crime would be brought to justice.
He noted “majority of
these criminals, 95% of them are from Delta State. It shows in this business of
crime, criminals are very mobile. No State can find a solution as they keep
moving from one State to the other. When their colleagues hear that they have
been put on trial, they would look elsewhere.”
To members of the
public the Governor said :“this is something that people should take into
account, that your own relation may well be the source of your problem. Your
own cook may well be the source of your problem; your guard may well be the
source of your problem. All of us need to be careful and not take anything for
granted.
“The lesson from this
effort is that when we report to law enforcement agents, they can be arrested,
but when we pay ransom, then we are providing additional incentives for the
criminals to remain in business. Every ransom we pay is an opportunity for them
to do more. For me the message is clear, we must resist paying ransom. We must
take law enforcement agencies into confidence. We must trust them.
“Let me use this opportunity
to appeal to our parents that we must watch over our children, particularly our
daughters. As we heard from one of them arrested, this business is to attract
unsuspecting young girls into travel with all kinds of lousy promises. In their
innocence, they submit and they take them across the borders and they face all
kinds of dehumanizing experiences”.
Tags
Society
Thank God
ReplyDeleteOne by one these criminals will be exposed. For those still in the business of kidnapping your time is fast approaching.
See who una go kidnap e pple. Una own don done.
ReplyDelete