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- Restore peace in Biogbolo community
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The anti-kidnapping unit of the Bayelsa Police Command has arrested four suspects in connection with the abduction of a 40-year-old businesswoman in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.
The arrests come as authorities have restored normalcy to Biogbolo community which was gripped with tension following attempts by hoodlums to disarm a police team.
According to investigations, the abduction victim, a major wholesale dealer in assorted drinks at Opolo market, was kidnapped Tuesday night by gunmen using the patrol vehicle of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Central zone.
Sources close to the hostage’s family said her abductors have contacted the family demanding a ransom of N10 million.
The Bayelsa Police Commissioner, CP Alonyenu Idu, who was briefed on the incident, directed that all those linked to the hostage-taking be arrested.
Four suspects, said to have been in touch with the mastermind of the kidnapping, including his girlfriend, have since been rounded up by the police.
It was gathered that, in the course of investigation, two strange faces were sighted at a location in Biogbolo however moves to question them threw the area into chaos.
The two individuals to escape police scrutiny raised false alarm which attracted a mob that attempted to disarm the policemen.
The police team foiled their operation and one of the hoodlums was hit in the stomach by a teargas canister and was rushed to the hospital.
CP Idu in an interview in his office confirmed that four suspects including the wife of the kidnap ring leader have been arrested by the police.
According to him, some of the suspected criminals who carried out the abduction of the business woman were chased from the recent raid on the hideout of criminals at Isiokpu area of Rivera State by the police command last week.
He added that the miscreants that escaped from the Rivers State Police raid used a Sienna vehicle owned by the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Central zone to sneak into Yenagoa and kidnap the business woman.
Idu who stated that the mastermind of the kidnap is an indigene of Ebonyi State disclosed that the first layer of those who participated in the kidnap have been arrested.
On the fracas at Biogbolo he said the disorderly behaviour of some protesting youths on Wednesday is linked to the criminal behaviours of the kidnappers.
“Two persons with strange behaviours were spotted at Biogbolo and when police attempted to apprehend them for questioning, the suspects raised their voices and triggered mob action in an attempt to disarm policemen.
‘’The irate crowd also attacked the State-owned Community Safety Corps team and attempted to disarm one of them and a bullet was discharged which injured one of the mob.”
Idu further confirmed that the Police command is working with the top echelon of the IYC and other communities in the manhunt for the master mind.
