Police arrest kidnappers of President Jonathan's uncle

The Department of State Services, DSS, yesterday in Abuja, paraded suspected kidnappers of Chief Nitabai Inengite, an uncle to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Those nabbed include Magnus Jonah,30; Raphael Inengesi, 32; Ibeabuchi Inya, 29; Oreva Arbridi, 29; Tammy Tamarapreye and Felix Onuoha who is a native doctor from Anambra State.

Jonah, who is an indigene of Nembe town in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State confessed that he masterminded the kidnap and provided a take-off grant of N40,000 which was used for procurement of arms and other logistics in the operation.

He also confessed that prior to the kidnap of Inengite, he had maintained steady surveillance on the victim, adding that his gang had two teams for the operation.

Jonah, who hitherto was a 400-level student of the University of Jos, Plateau State, however, stated that the long strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, drove him into the illegal business.

Though Tamarapreye denied his involvement in the act, he however, admitted that he was the owner of the black Golf car used for the kidnap operation.

According to him, he was robed into the operation when Jonah made an innocent request of using the car for a burial ceremony.

I was to get 10% of ransom procced

Felix Onuoha, a 48-year-old native doctor, residing in Edo State hails from Aguleri in Anambra State.

He confessed that his role in the operation was preparation of charms for fortification, success and protection in the gang’s plan to kidnap a known rich man who resided in Bayelsa State.

He stated that he played along with the kidnappers on the offer of 10 per cent made to him from the anticipated ransom and the need to save himself and family from any seeming harm that would have come from refusing to work with the group.

It will be recalled that Inengite was kidnapped on February 23, 2014 and held captive at two different locations in the creeks of Brass and Okigbene in Bayelsa State. He, however, regained his freedom after 17 days in the hands of his captors, following operations by security agents.